The 2024 College Football Playoff is coming out with its new 12-team format for the first time ever and it’s offering fans an expanded postseason filled with some of the biggest matchups of the year.
The stakes are unquestionably higher, the field is much, much deeper, and the best teams from across the country are ready to fight for the college football national championship.
From the usual powerhouse programs like Georgia and Ohio State to up-and-coming teams like Indiana and SMU, this year’s playoff is going to deliver excitement at every turn.
Here's everything you need to know about the CFB playoff schedule.
The first round kicks off with 4 huge games featuring teams seeded 5-12 from the regular season.
Like most playoff pictures, each matchup will be played on the home field of the higher-seeded team. Could this home-field advantage be the game-changer for these teams?
Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Notre Dame -8.5
Notre Dame enters the CFB Playoffs as the No. 5 seed after a solid 11-1 season, led by their dominant running game and a fairly reliable defense.
Jeremiyah Love, their tank of a RB, has been a key player, averaging 7.1 yards per carry and scoring a whopping 15 touchdowns this year. Quarterback Riley Leonard is decent as well as he threw for 1,962 yards with 16 TDs on the season.
Indiana, on the other hand, has had a historic season as well with a record of 11-1. That is good enough to earn the No. 10 seed. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke leads the Hoosiers with a staggering 2,827 passing yards and 27 touchdowns, while WR Elijah Sarratt has emerged as one of Rourke’s top targets with 890 receiving yards.
Indiana’s balanced offense will need to crack Notre Dame’s powerhouse defense, which ranks 15th in rushing yards allowed.
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 21, Noon ET
TV: TNT
Line: Penn State -8.5
Penn State has been a force all season long. They finished 11-2 and earned the #6 seed.
Quarterback Drew Allar has been as efficient as ever as he threw for 2,894 yards, landed 21 touchdowns, and gave up only 7 interceptions.
Running back Nicholas Singleton adds even more firepower for the Nittany Lions on the ground, averaging 6.4 yards per carry and scoring 7 times.
Penn State’s defense has also been a highlight of the team and season as they’re ranking 31st nationally in stopping the run.
SMU enters the matchup with an explosive offense led by quarterback Kevin Jennings. He has thrown for an eye-popping 3,050 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is mature and intelligent on the field.
Running back Brashard Smith provides the Mustangs a bit of balance with his 1,270 rushing yards and 14 TDs. The Mustangs will look to find holes in Penn State’s strong defensive front, which won’t be easy, but the Nittany Lions’ home-field advantage could play a critical role in how this game tips.
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 21, 4 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Line: Texas -11.5
Texas, the runner-up for the SEC after a close loss to Georgia, holds the No. 5 seed in the CFB playoffs after a strong 11-2 season.
The Longhorns’ offense is driven by their QB1 Quinn Ewers, who has thrown for 2,665 yards and 25 touchdowns — all while Freshman Arch Manning waits for his chance to shine.
Running back Quintrevion Wisner added 863 rushing yards and 3 TDs to the mix, while WR Matthew Golden leads the team with 738 receiving yards and 8 TDs. They’re a very versatile mix and that will undoubtedly play to their favor.
Clemson’s defense will be tested in their first game of the CFB playoffs as they enter the matchup as the #12 seed.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik leads the Tigers with a staggering 3,303 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. He’s one of the best in the league, but he’ll need help from running back Phil Mafah, who has tallied 1,106 rushing yards on his own.
We think that Clemson’s playoff experience could prove valuable as they look to pull off the upset in Austin.
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Ohio State -7
This matchup is one of the most anticipated games of the first round.
Ohio State, coming in with a record of 10-2, is the No. 6 seed and is fortunate to have an offense led by quarterback Will Howard (2,860 yards, 27 touchdowns) and star receiver Jeremiah Smith, who leads the team with 934 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Ohio State will also rely on their dominant RB, Quinshon Judkins, who has recorded 8 TDs on the ground.
Tennessee’s offense has been dynamic, yet effective this season.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava has passed for a hefty 2,512 yards and tallied 19 touchdowns. Running back Dylan Sampson adds 1,485 rushing yards and 22 TDs, making him not only a key player for the Volunteers but one of the best RBs in the nation.
We’re thinking with their strong running game, Tennessee will look to exploit Ohio State’s 96th-ranked rushing defense.
The winners of the first round advance to the quarterfinals. The CFB playoff quarterfinals include 4 marquee bowl games.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. SMU/Penn State winner
Date/Time: Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. Clemson/Texas winner
Date/Time: Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. Tennessee/Ohio State winner
Date/Time: Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. Indiana/Notre Dame winner
Date/Time: Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Oregon, undefeated at 13-0 and coming into the CFB playoffs as the #1 seed, will await its opponent in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks have dominated all year with a balanced attack and are looking to keep it going.
Georgia, fresh off an SEC title against Texas, will play in the Sugar Bowl and look to defend its status as a top contender in the CFB playoffs.
The semifinals will take place at the iconic Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. These games are where the winners of the quarterfinals will battle it out for a spot in the national championship game.
Orange Bowl: Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Cotton Bowl: Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
The two remaining teams from the CFB playoff semifinals will face off for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET, broadcast on ESPN.
The new and expanded playoff format means there will be fresh storylines and intense competition throughout the bracket, with new teams like Indiana and SMU aiming for their own shot at glory.
The 2024 College Football Playoff will undoubtedly be one of the most thrilling brackets in recent memory.
With the new 12-team format, every game matters, and every team has a chance to make CFB history.
From powerhouse programs like Oregon and Georgia, who are almost always in the running for the championship, to underdogs like Indiana and SMU, the stage is set for some big, unforgettable moments.
Buckle up, because this expanded playoff bracket is about to deliver college football at its finest.