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Everything you need to know about the 12-team College Football Playoff before the start of the season

The conferences are the only thing changing this season, the College Football Playoff has some changes of its own this year.

By Ericka Brockish

Jan 6, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; A general view of the National Championship Trophy during media day before the College Football Playoff national championship between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies at George R Brown Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; A general view of the National Championship Trophy during media day before the College Football Playoff national championship between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies at George R Brown Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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College football is so close and Kansas State fans are ready to see the Wildcats make big plays and get big stops. The Wildcats are hoping for a big season with Avery Johnson behind center and they are hoping he can help lead them to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

With a new season, however, comes a lot of changes in college football. There are six new rules that will be implemented, and there will be new teams in each of the conferences. Most importantly, the College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams this season.

Ever since the CFP started back in 2014, there have only been four teams selected to continue competing for a National Championship. The committee voted to expand the playoff and that expansion will take place this season.

So before the season starts, here is everything you need to know about the 12-team expansion for the College Football Playoff.

Who qualifies and how will seeding work?

The College Football Playoff committee announced that with 12 teams in the playoff, they will now go to a 5-7 format. The way the 5-7 format works is that five conference champions will get an automatic bid to the playoff, no matter what their ranking is, and the next seven highest-ranked team will fill the remaining spots.

Now a team does not have to win their conference or even feel like they have to go undefeated to make the playoffs. The Big 12, SEC, Big Ten, and ACC champions will all get their automatic bid and the fifth champion spot will go to the highest-ranked Group of Five champions.

Seeding will be a little different as the four highest-ranked conference champions will be the four highest seeds and receive first-round byes. The remaining eight teams will play in the first round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds on their home field. Rematches will not necessarily be avoided especially for teams in the same conference.

Bracket play

First round (home games)

Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21

  • No. 12 seed vs. No. 5 seed
  • No. 9 seed vs. No. 8 seed
  • No. 11 seed vs. No. 6 seed
  • No. 10 seed vs. No. 7 seed

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, December 31, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025

  • No. 4 seed plays the winner No. 12 vs. No. 5
  • No. 1 seed plays the winner of No. 9 vs. No. 8
  • No. 3 seed plays the winner of No. 11 vs. No. 6
  • No. 2 seed plays the winner of No. 10 vs. No. 7

Semifinals

Thursday, January 9, 2025: Capital One Orange Bowl

Friday, January 10, 2025: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

CFP National Championship

Monday, January 20, 2025: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Who is on the selection committee?

  • Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel (committee chair)
  • Former Nevada coach Chris Ault
  • Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk
  • Former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe
  • Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler
  • Former sportswriter Kelly Whiteside
  • Former All-American Nebraska lineman Will Shields
  • Former Toledo and Missouri coach Gary Pinkel
  • Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades
  • Virginia athletic director Carla Williams
  • Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek
  • Former Oregon State and Nebraska coach Mike Riley
  • Former Arizona State All-American guard Randall McDaniel

The CFP selection committee is looking at a multitude of things when decided the teams that will be in the playoffs. Everything that the committee looks at is strength of schedule, championships won, head-to-head competition, comparative outcomes of common opponents, and other relevant factors.

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