The College Football Playoff (CFP) has undergone significant changes for the 2024-2025 season, expanding from the previous four-team format to a 12-team structure. This expansion aims to create more opportunities for teams and increase the excitement and competitiveness of the postseason. Let’s delve into the history of the CFP, the details of the new format and how the playoffs work under these changes.
Before the CFP, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was the method used to determine the national champion from 1998 to 2013. The BCS system relied on a combination of polls and computer selection methods to rank teams, often resulting in controversy and dissatisfaction among fans and teams. The CFP was announced in 2012 and officially began with the 2014 season.
The CFP uses a selection committee to rank the top 25 teams in the country, choose the 12 teams that will compete in the playoffs and assign the teams to the playoff sites. The committee consists of 13 members, including six former coaches and players, six current athletic directors across seven conferences and a former sports writer. They meet weekly to discuss and rank teams based on various factors, including performance, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and more. The first set of rankings will be released on Tuesday, November 5 (Week 11), and will come out each following Tuesday.
Growing from four teams to 12 in fall 2024, this change introduces automatic bids, at-large spots, seeding and a more comprehensive playoff schedule.
The five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic qualifying spots in the playoff. There is no minimum ranking requirement for these conference champions, allowing even lower-ranked champions to earn a spot in the playoffs.
In addition to the automatic bids, the next seven highest-ranked teams receive at-large qualifying spots. This ensures that deserving teams, regardless of conference affiliation, have a chance to compete for the national title.
The top four conference champions are given the top four seeds in the playoff and receive a first-round bye. This seeding system rewards the best-performing teams with a strategic advantage, allowing them to skip the first round of games.
The remaining eight teams, seeded 5 through 12, compete in the first round. These games are hosted by the higher-seeded teams, adding an exciting home-field advantage element to the playoff structure. The first-round matchups create additional excitement and opportunities for upsets and dramatic finishes.
The quarterfinal and semifinal games rotate among six major bowl games: Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose and Sugar. The quarterfinals are scheduled for December 31 and January 1, while the semifinals are played on January 9 and 10. These games continue to be marquee events, drawing large audiences and significant media attention.
The CFP culminates in the national championship game, played on a Monday night at least a week after the semifinals. In 2024, this game will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20. This grand finale determines the national champion and caps off the college football season with a high-stakes, highly anticipated matchup.
ESPN holds exclusive rights to broadcast the 12-team playoff through the 2031 season. This includes not only the games themselves but also other CFP programming, such as the selection show and weekly ranking shows.
Any major change to this coveted sport results in polarizing views:
In the gray area is the potential for a team to play a 17-game schedule if they lose their conference championship and play four straight playoff games. While fans may love the extended season, it could pose significant health risks for the players.
The College Football Playoff’s expansion to 12 teams marks a new era in college football. As the new format is implemented, stakeholders will need to monitor its impact closely and make adjustments to ensure the continued success and integrity of college football.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.