6:08 pm, December 7, 2024
ESPN has announced details for when fans will know the CFP bracket. Though the show is four hours long from 12 to 4 p.m. ET, the CFP top 25 rankings and the bracket will be revealed within the first 30 minutes.
The main coverage group will be led by Rece Davis with Kirk Herbstreit, Joey Galloway, Booger McFarland and Greg McElroy. Nick Saban, Pete Thamel and Heather Dinich and reporters at team sites will also be involved.
8:45 pm, December 7, 2024
The College Football Playoff has been around since the 2014 season, but it has a new look this year. The CFP has expanded from four teams to 12, which means there are now automatic qualifiers, byes and more chances for teams to make the field. Here’s a short guide:
- The five conference champions ranked highest by the selection committee are in automatically
- The remaining seven teams in the 12-team field will be the next seven highest-ranked teams
- Four of these automatic qualifiers get byes into the quarterfinals and are seeded Nos. 1-4. The fifth-highest-ranked conference champion will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 rankings
- The teams seeded No. 5-12 will play in the first round, with the higher seeds hosting (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.)
For a deeper look into how it all works, click or tap here.
Sunday’s rankings show is the sixth of the year. Take a look at that schedule here.
8:52 pm, December 7, 2024
As we wait for the official 12-team bracket — and thus the rankings and seedings — here’s how this year’s CFP schedule looks.
- First round (Dec. 20-21)
- Friday, Dec. 20: 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
- Saturday, Dec. 21: 12 p.m. | TNT
- Saturday, Dec. 21: 4 p.m. | TNT
- Saturday, Dec. 21: 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
- Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
- Fiesta Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 | ESPN
- Peach Bowl: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
- Rose Bowl: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
- Sugar Bowl: 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
- Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
- Orange Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 | ESPN
- Cotton Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 | ESPN
- CFP National Championship
- 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20 | ESPN
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
8:53 pm, December 7, 2024
Here’s a rundown of all prior College Football Playoff championship games.
| Year (SEASON) |
Game | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20 | Arlington, Texas |
| 2015 | No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40 | Glendale, Arizona |
| 2016 | No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31 | Tampa, Florida |
| 2017 | No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23 | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2018 | No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16 | Santa Clara, California |
| 2019 | No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25 | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 2020 | No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24 | Miami Gardens, Florida |
| 2021 | No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18 | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 2022 | No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7 | Inglewood, California |
| 2023 | No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13 | Houston, Texas |
