Everything to know about the new College Football Playoff format
As we inch closer to the College Football Playoff, Mackenzie Salmon is here to catch you up on all the changes you should expect to see.
Sports Pulse
The first of six College Football Playoff rankings has been released and the committee members have shown that it’s not how much you win, but rather how you win that will keep you in the CFP conversation.
In the first rankings, the SEC and Big Ten, two of the most competitive conferences in college football, dominated in the projected bracket. This dominance is significant as it indicates the strength of these conferences and the quality of their teams. Four SEC teams, including the one-loss Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns, Tennessee Volunteers and two-loss Alabama Crimson Tide, claimed a bid. From the Big Ten, undefeated Oregon Ducks, Penn State Nittany Lions and Indiana Hoosiers, as well as the one loss Ohio State Buckeyes, managed to keep their name in the CFP conversation in the first rankings.
The remaining teams that made the first 12-team bracket were as follows: undefeated Miami Hurricanes at the No. 3 seed, undefeated BYU Cougars at the No. 4 seed, one-loss Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the No. 10 seed and lastly the Boise State Broncos at the No. 12 seed. Each of these teams has its own unique story and journey to the rankings.
As the college football season heads towards its climax with Week 11 games, the teams are on tenterhooks, hoping they’ve done enough to secure their position ahead of the second rankings release. The anticipation is palpable as the teams await their fate in the CFP conversation.
The second of six College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings will be released on November 12, after Week 11 games.
The College Football Playoff Rankings Show can be watched on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Watch the CFP Rankings Show on ESPN with a Fubo subscription
In the 2024-25 season, 12 teams will qualify for the College Football Playoff. The top five conference champions will earn automatic bids, thereby securing the top five seeds. The remaining seven highest-ranked teams will complete the 12-team field.
The new 12-team College Football Playoff will consist of four conference champions, who will secure bids one through four. The top four teams will receive a first-round bye, advancing directly to the quarterfinals. The eight remaining ranked teams will also earn spots in the 5-12 team bracket and play on the home field of the higher-ranked team.
Here is the schedule for the College Football Playoff Ranking Show. All times are in Eastern Time:
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