How the College Football Playoff works: Schedule, choices, rankings, byes and extra

The College Football Playoff period started with the 2014 season. For the primary decade, 4 groups had been chosen to the Playoff subject, with two semifinal video games and a nationwide championship sport. Starting within the 2024-25 season, here is the brand new, expanded format to know:

• 12 groups shall be chosen to the Playoff subject, with the choice committee’s 5 highest-ranked convention champions incomes automated bids
• The 4 highest-ranked groups no matter convention champion standing will obtain the highest 4 seeds within the playoff and a first-round bye.
  • In the inaugural 12-team playoff in 2024, the 4 highest-ranked convention champions had been seeded 1-4 and every will obtained a first-round bye
• Teams seeded 5-12 will play one another within the first spherical on the house subject of the higher-ranked crew

The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate amongst six bowls: Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose and Sugar. Both semifinals shall be performed across the New Year’s vacation with the nationwide title sport on a Monday night time at the least per week later. See the CFP schedule under for the primary two years.

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

• First spherical | Week of Saturday, Dec. 20
  • Location: the house subject of the higher-seeded crew or one other website designated by the higher-seeded program.
  • One sport | Friday, Dec. 19
  • Three video games | Saturday, Dec. 20
• Quarterfinal websites:
  • 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 websites:
  • 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

Here’s what you could know concerning the postseason format put collectively by the commissioners of the 11 main school soccer conferences and Notre Dame’s athletic director.

Who votes on the College Football Playoff rankings?

There are 13 members on the CFP choice committee. It’s a set of individuals with expertise as coaches, gamers, school directors, athletic administrators and journalists. Here are the members.

A committee of college presidents accepted a plan for a newly 12-team College Football Playoff. In 2024, the College Football Playoff Board of Managers agreed to replace the beginning of the 12-team CFP subject starting with the 2024-25 season to incorporate a 5-7 format.

How typically are the rankings introduced?

The Selection Committee members will meet weekly to supply rankings. The committee’s rankings shall be introduced on ESPN. Here’s the schedule for the 2025-26 season:

• 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)

What will the committee use to rank groups?

From 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 course of work?

According to the CFP web site, 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.” You can read about each step here.

Where and when are the video games performed?

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

Click here for a look at the past, current and future CFP schedules.