College football fans can now look forward to an exciting postseason, as the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff bracket has been unveiled. The expansion from four teams to 12 was made possible by the success of the playoff format, which debuted in 2024.
The top seeds were seeded Nos. 1 through 4 and earned first-round byes into the quarterfinals. Oregon Ducks, Georgia Bulldogs, Boise State Broncos, and Arizona State Sun Devils took these spots, respectively. Meanwhile, Clemson Tigers, who pulled off a stunning upset against SMU Mustangs to win the ACC Championship, secured the No. 12 seed.
The 12-team field features several highly anticipated matchups in the first round. Clemson will take on Texas at home, while Penn State and SMU face off at noon ET on Dec. 21. Notre Dame, seeded No. 7, will host Indiana on Dec. 20, with the winner advancing to play Georgia. Ohio State, seeded No. 8, will host Tennessee on Dec. 21.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played at neutral sites in traditional bowl games. The national championship game is set for Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
A surprising omission from the bracket is Alabama, which was left out despite finishing with three losses. Miami, which finished 10-2, also missed the cut.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/2024-25-college-football-playoff-bracket-revealed-how-does-12-team-field-shake-out