The College Football Playoff (CFP) committee unveiled its fifth set of rankings on Tuesday, providing the final preview ahead of this Sunday’s announcement of the 12-team playoff lineup. The new playoff format consists of five highest-ranked conference champions and seven additional at-large teams. Notably, the top four conference champions will receive first-round byes, while the remaining eight teams will compete at the home fields of the higher-seeded opponents.
The projected bracket features the following first-round byes:
– No. 1 Oregon Ducks
– No. 2 Texas Longhorns
– No. 3 SMU Mustangs
– No. 4 Boise State Broncos
The first-round matchups, which will be held on campuses, are as follows:
– No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers at No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes, with the winner advancing to face No. 1 Oregon
– No. 12 Arizona State Sun Devils at No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions, with the winner moving on to play No. 4 Boise State
– No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with the victor earning a chance against No. 3 SMU
– No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers at No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs, with the winner set to take on No. 2 Texas
The current top 25 rankings are led by Oregon (12-0) followed by Texas (11-1), Penn State (11-1), and Notre Dame (11-1).
This expansion of the playoff format is a significant change for college football, bringing more teams and fans into the postseason excitement. With the playoffs set to launch soon, anticipation is building as teams prepare to compete for the national championship, scheduled for January 20, 2025.
In a hopeful tone, this new approach allows for greater representation from various conferences, promising thrilling matchups and opportunities for underdog teams to make their mark on college football’s biggest stage.