The 12-team playoff format is set for the 2024-25 college football season, with the top-ranked conference champions securing spots as the top four seeds and automatic byes. The current bracket features a unique ordering, with Boise State ranked No. 10 receiving a bye due to being the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion.
The fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, SMU, also earns an automatic spot in the playoffs despite not ranking as high as some other teams. Arizona State, ranked No. 15, beats out higher-ranked Miami (Fla.), Ole Miss, and South Carolina for a spot in the bracket due to its status as the last automatic qualifier.
The first round of the playoff features eight teams competing at campus sites on December 20 or 21. The matchups are:
– Arizona State (12) vs. Penn State (5)
– Alabama (11) vs. Notre Dame (6)
– Indiana (10) vs. Georgia (7)
– Tennessee (9) vs. Ohio State (8)
The quarterfinal winners will then play in the semifinals at either the Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl on January 9 and 10, before meeting for the national championship on January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Source: https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2024-12-03/college-football-playoff-bracket-based-current-committee-rankings