How the New College Football Playoff Works: Expanded Format, Selection Rules, and Game Schedule

The 2014 season saw the start of the College Football Playoff era. Four teams were chosen to participate in the Playoffs for the first ten years, which included two semifinal matches and a national championship game. However, the 12-team era has begun. The CFP and bracketing work as follows:

• A total of 12 teams will qualify for the Playoff field, with the five highest-ranked conference champions earning automatic bids.These five conference champions will be included regardless of whether they appear in the top 25 rankings.
  • Example: In the first 2025 CFP rankings, Memphis was not ranked in the top 25 but still received a projected automatic bid as the fifth highest-ranked conference champion.
• The four highest-ranked teams overall — regardless of conference champion status — will receive the top four seeds and a first-round bye.
  • In the inaugural 2024 12-team playoff format, the four highest-ranked conference champions were seeded 1–4 and each received a first-round bye.
• Teams seeded No. 5 through No. 12 will compete in the first round, with games hosted at the home field of the higher-seeded team.

Six bowls alternate between the quarterfinals and semifinals: Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar. The national championship game will take place on Monday night at least one week after the semifinals, which will take place during the New Year’s holiday. For the first two years, refer to the CFP schedule below.

2025-26 College Football Playoff round-by-round schedule

• First round | Week of Saturday, Dec. 20
  • Location: the home field of the higher-seeded team or another site designated by the higher-seeded program.
  • One game | Friday, Dec. 19
  • Three games | Saturday, Dec. 20
• Quarterfinal sites:
  • Cotton Bowl | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  • Orange Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 12 p.m. | ESPN
  • Rose Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 4 p.m. | ESPN
  • Sugar Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
• Semifinal sites:
  • Fiesta Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  • Peach Bowl  | Friday, Jan. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
• CFP National Championship Game:
  • Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 (in Miami, Florida) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

The athletic director of Notre Dame and the commissioners of the 11 major college football conferences created this postseason arrangement.

Who casts votes for the College Football Playoff rankings?

The CFP selection committee consists of 13 people. It is a group of individuals with experience as journalists, athletic directors, coaches, athletes, and college administrators.

A plan for a new 12-team College Football Playoff was endorsed by a group of university presidents. The College Football Playoff Board of Managers decided in 2024 to implement a 5-7 structure for the 12-team CFP field starting in the 2024–2025 season.

How often are the rankings announced?

To establish rankings, the members of the Selection Committee will convene once a week. ESPN will reveal the committee’s rankings. The schedule for the 2025–2026 season is as follows:

• 8-8:45 p.m. | ET Tuesday, Nov. 4
• 7-8 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Nov. 11
• 8:30-9 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Nov. 18
• 7-8 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Nov. 25
• 7-7:30 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Dec. 2
• 12-3 p.m. ET | Sunday, Dec. 7 (Selection Day)

How will teams be ranked by the committee?

According to the CFP website: “The selection committee ranks the teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and comparison of results against common opponents to decide among teams that are comparable.”

How does the voting procedure work?

According to the CFP website, it begins like this: “Each committee member will create a list of the 30 teams he or she believes to be the best in the country, in no particular order. Teams listed by three or more members will remain under consideration. At the conclusion of any round, other teams can be added to the group of teams under consideration by a vote of three or more members.”

Where and when are the games played?

According to the CFP, “College Football Playoff Semifinal games rotate among the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Game, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl.”