How the College Football Playoff works: Schedule, selections, rankings, byes and more

The College Football Playoff (CFP) has expanded from a 4-team format to a 12-team format starting with the 2024-25 season. This new structure includes quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with the semifinals rotating among six major bowls: Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar. The semifinal games will be played around the New Year's holiday, followed by the national championship game on a Monday night at least one week later.

A selection committee composed of 13 members—including experienced coaches, players, college administrators, athletic directors, and journalists—will determine the playoff field. The committee meets weekly to produce rankings, which are announced on ESPN. Teams are evaluated based on performance, conference championships, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and outcomes against common opponents.

The ranking process begins with each committee member independently listing up to 30 teams they consider the best, in no particular order. Teams listed by at least three members remain under consideration, and additional teams can be added via a vote of three or more members at any stage. The final rankings determine the 12 teams selected for the playoff.

The new format follows a 5+7 model: five conference champions automatically qualify, and seven at-large bids are awarded. The playoff schedule, including past, current, and future dates, is available on the CFP website. The changes were approved by the CFP Board of Managers and university presidents, marking a significant shift in the postseason structure since the CFP began in 2014.