How the College Football Playoff works

The College Football Playoff era began with the 2014 season. For the first decade, four teams were selected to the Playoff field, with two semifinal games and a national championship game. Starting in the 2024-25 season, here’s the new, expanded format to know:

• 12 teams will be selected to the Playoff field, with the five highest-ranked conference champions earning automatic bids
• The four highest-ranked teams regardless of conference champion status will receive the top four seeds in the playoff and a first-round bye.
  • In the inaugural 12-team playoff in 2024, the four highest-ranked conference champions were seeded 1-4 and each will received a first-round bye
• Teams seeded 5-12 will play each other in the first round on the home field of the higher-ranked team

The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate among six bowls: Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose and Sugar. Both semifinals will be played around the New Year’s holiday with the national title game on a Monday night at least a week later. See the CFP schedule below for the first two years.

2025-26 College Football Playoff round-by-round schedule

• First round | Week of Saturday, Dec. 20
  • Location: the home field of the higher-seeded team or another site designated by the higher-seeded program.
  • One game | Friday, Dec. 19
  • Three games | Saturday, Dec. 20
• Quarterfinal sites:
  • Cotton Bowl | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  • Orange Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 12 p.m. | ESPN
  • Rose Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 4 p.m. | ESPN
  • Sugar Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
• Semifinal sites:
  • Fiesta Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  • Peach Bowl  | Friday, Jan. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
• CFP National Championship Game:
  • Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 (in Miami, Florida) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

2024-25 College Football Playoff round-by-round schedule

All times Eastern

• 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

A committee of university presidents approved a plan for a newly 12-team College Football Playoff. In 2024, the College Football Playoff Board of Managers agreed to update the start of the 12-team CFP field beginning with the 2024-25 season to include a 5-7 format.

Here’s what you need to know about the postseason format put together by the commissioners of the 11 major college football conferences and Notre Dame’s athletic director.

Who votes on the College Football Playoff rankings?

There are 13 members on the CFP selection committee. It’s a collection of people with experience as coaches, players, college administrators, athletic directors and journalists. Here are the members.

How often are the rankings announced?

The Selection Committee members will meet weekly to produce rankings. The committee’s rankings will be announced on ESPN.

What will the committee use to rank teams?

From the CFP website: “The selection committee ranks the teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and comparison of results against common opponents to decide among teams that are comparable.”

How does the voting process work?

According to the CFP website, it begins like this: “Each committee member will create a list of the 30 teams he or she believes to be the best in the country, in no particular order. Teams listed by three or more members will remain under consideration. At the conclusion of any round, other teams can be added to the group of teams under consideration by a vote of three or more members.” You can read about each step here.

Where and when are the games played?

Per the CFP, “College Football Playoff Semifinal games rotate among the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Game, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl.”

Click here for a look at the past, current and future CFP schedules.