Current College Football Playoff Bracket Based on Committee Rankings

The 2024-25 college football season marks the debut of the expanded 12-team playoff, a major shift in how the sport crowns its champion. The playoff selection committee continues to rank the top 25 teams throughout the season, but the postseason bracket is now crafted based on a mix of rankings and conference championship criteria. The four highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic byes to the quarterfinals, while the fifth-highest-ranked champion and seven at-large teams fill out the remaining spots.

Using the latest rankings from Nov. 19, the playoff bracket paints a compelling picture of the competition. Oregon, representing the Big Ten as the top-ranked conference champion, secures the No. 1 seed, followed by Texas (SEC) as the second seed, Miami (Fla.) (ACC) as the third, and Boise State (Mountain West) at No. 4. The remaining slots feature powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame, as well as SEC stalwarts Alabama, Georgia, and Ole Miss. Notably, BYU, ranked 14th, clinches the 12th seed as the fifth-highest conference champion, while Tennessee and SMU narrowly miss out.

First-round matchups, set for Dec. 20-21 at campus sites, promise exciting clashes. BYU faces off against Ohio State, with the winner advancing to play Boise State. Other marquee games include Georgia vs. Penn State, Ole Miss vs. Indiana, and Alabama vs. Notre Dame, with the victors progressing to meet the top four seeds in the quarterfinals. These subsequent games will be hosted at prestigious bowl venues like the Fiesta, Rose, Peach, and Sugar Bowls on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

The semifinals, scheduled for Jan. 9-10, will take place at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl, with the championship game set for Jan. 20 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. As this new playoff system unfolds, fans eagerly anticipate its impact on the competitive landscape of college football, promising more inclusivity and thrilling postseason action.