College football fans, the wait is over—it’s playoff time! The College Football Playoff (CFP) is here, bringing all the drama, excitement, and championship dreams we live for. The official 12-team bracket dropped on December 8, with Oregon locking down the No. 1 seed. Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State also secured first-round byes.
We’ve got the full bracket, final seeding, and complete playoff schedule right here. So, get ready to see what’s on the line for the nation’s best teams.
2024-25 College Football Playoff Bracket
This bracket is based on the committee’s final top 25 rankings from Sunday, December 8. But remember: the playoff seeds don’t always match the rankings. The top four spots and byes go to the highest-ranked conference champs—no matter where they fall in the top 25. Meanwhile, the fifth-best conference champ gets an automatic bid but doesn’t receive a bye.
The Top 4 Seeds
These teams have earned themselves a first-round bye:
-
Oregon Ducks (13-0)
-
Georgia Bulldogs (11-2)
-
Boise State Broncos (12-1)
-
Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2)
First Round Matchups
The playoff action kicks off on December 20 and 21 with first-round games hosted by the higher-seeded teams. Home-field advantage could be a game-changer, but keep an eye on those underdogs.
|
Game |
Date |
Time (ET) |
Where to Watch |
|
December 20 |
8:00 p.m. |
ABC/ESPN |
|
|
December 21 |
12:00 p.m. |
TNT/Max |
|
|
December 21 |
4:00 p.m. |
TNT/Max |
|
|
December 21 |
8:00 p.m. |
ABC/ESPN |
Quarterfinals
After the first round, it’s time for the big boys to enter the fray. The quarterfinals take place at neutral sites on December 31 and January 1. Here’s the schedule:
|
Game |
Date |
Time (ET) |
Where to Watch |
|
December 31 |
7:30 p.m. |
Fiesta Bowl |
|
|
January 1 |
1:00 p.m. |
Peach Bowl |
|
|
January 1 |
5:00 p.m. |
Rose Bowl |
|
|
January 1 |
8:45 p.m. |
Sugar Bowl |
The bowl venues bring a little tradition into the mix, but the stakes have never been higher. Each team is just two wins away from a spot in the national championship.
Semifinals
The semifinals—aka the Final Four—will take place on January 9 and 10 at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. Matchups will depend on how the earlier rounds shake out, so get ready for some surprises.
|
Game |
Date |
Time (ET) |
Where to Watch |
|
TBD vs. TBD |
January 9 |
7:30 p.m. |
Orange Bowl / ESPN |
|
TBD vs. TBD |
January 10 |
7:30 p.m. |
Cotton Bowl / ESPN |
National Championship
The season wraps up with the national championship game on January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Two teams will battle for it all in one of college football’s biggest showdowns.
|
Game |
Date |
Time (ET) |
Where to Watch |
|
TBD vs. TBD |
- |
7:30 p.m. |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia / ESPN |
College Football Playoff Rankings & Seeds
Here are the final CFP top 25 rankings. The four highest-seeded teams that earned first-round byes are highlighted in bold.
|
Rank |
Team |
Seed |
|
1 |
Oregon |
1 |
|
2 |
Georgia |
2 |
|
3 |
Texas |
5 |
|
4 |
Penn State |
6 |
|
5 |
Notre Dame |
7 |
|
6 |
Ohio State |
8 |
|
7 |
Tennessee |
9 |
|
8 |
Indiana |
10 |
|
9 |
Boise State |
3 |
|
10 |
SMU |
11 |
|
11 |
Alabama |
1st team out of the CFP |
|
12 |
Arizona State |
4 |
|
13 |
Miami |
2nd team out of the CFP |
|
14 |
Ole Miss |
3rd team out of the CFP |
|
15 |
South Carolina |
4th team out of the CFP |
|
16 |
Clemson |
12 |
|
17 |
BYU |
5th team out of the CFP |
|
18 |
Iowa State |
6th team out of the CFP |
|
19 |
Missouri |
7th team out of the CFP |
|
20 |
Illinois |
8th team out of the CFP |
|
21 |
Syracuse |
9th team out of the CFP |
|
22 |
Army |
10th team out of the CFP |
|
23 |
Colorado |
11th team out of the CFP |
|
24 |
UNLV |
12th team out of the CFP |
|
25 |
Memphis |
13th team out of the CFP |
Notes:
-
Boise State, which won the Mountain West Conference championship and lost only to top-ranked Oregon, earned a bye into the quarterfinals despite being ranked No. 9.
-
Arizona State (ranked No. 12) secured the No. 4 seed by being the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion, edging out ACC champ Clemson (No. 16).
It’s Playoff Time
There you have it—everything you need to know about this year’s College Football Playoff. With more teams and more games, it’s the most exciting format we’ve seen yet. So grab your snacks, rally your crew, and get ready to watch history unfold.
And what better way to support your favorite players than by rocking their merch? Head over to the NIL Store to grab gear from your favorite football athletes and show your pride during playoff season!