College Football Playoff Rankings: Predicting a 12-Team Bracket from the Latest Top 25

As we look forward to the 12-team College Football Playoff next season, The Athletic has decided to use the latest CFP selection committee rankings of this season to demonstrate how the new format will operate.

Based on the committee’s Nov. 28 rankings and the CFP’s previously announced 2024-25 game dates, here’s how the bracket would be seeded and the site locations determined. It’s important to note that the Orange and Cotton bowls are scheduled to host the two semifinals, with the national championship game set to take place in Atlanta.

Top 4 seeds (first-round byes)

1. Georgia (SEC champion)
2. Michigan (Big Ten champion)
3. Washington (Pac-12 champion)
4. Florida State (ACC champion)

Under the new format, the top four seeds will be reserved for the four highest-ranked conference champions. This means that Georgia, Michigan, Washington, and Florida State would receive a bye into the quarterfinals.

The Nos. 5-12 seeds, to be filled by specific teams, are also important in determining the playoff layout. This season, and for the purposes of this exercise, we’re using the current plan of picking the six highest-ranked conference champions along with the six highest-ranked at-large teams.

Nos. 5-12 seeds

5. Oregon (at-large)
6. Ohio State (at-large)
7. Texas (Big 12 champion)
8. Alabama (at-large)
9. Missouri (at-large)
10. Penn State (at-large)
11. Ole Miss (at-large)
12. Tulane (AAC champion)

For now, we’ll continue with the original plan to pick six champions and six at-large teams. This might change in the future given the conference realignment discussions currently taking place.

The CFP schedule

All times Eastern.

First round

Friday, Dec. 19

• No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Oregon, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 20

• No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 6 Ohio State, noon
• No. 9 Missouri at No. 8 Alabama, 4 p.m.
• No. 10 Penn State at No. 7 Texas, 8 p.m.

The four first-round games will be played on the campuses of the Nos. 5-8 seeds over the third weekend in December, and game placement is likely to be determined by TV schedules as well as individual team rankings.

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, Dec. 31

• Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Washington vs. Ohio State-Ole Miss winner, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan 1

• Peach Bowl: No. 4 Florida State vs. Oregon-Tulane winner, 1 p.m.
• Rose Bowl: No. 2 Michigan vs. Texas-Penn State winner, 5 p.m.
• Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. Alabama-Missouri winner, 8:45 p.m.

The CFP has already announced the dates and sites for the four quarterfinal bowl games, and the top four teams will be assigned to their sites in consideration of current contract bowl relationships.

Semifinals

Thursday, Jan. 9

• Orange Bowl: No. 1 Georgia/No. 8 Alabama/No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 4 Florida State/No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 Tulane, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 10

• Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Michigan/No. 7 Texas/No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 3 Washington/No. 6 Ohio State/No. 11 Ole Miss, 7:30 p.m.

The semifinals will be played on a Thursday and Friday night at least a week after the quarterfinals to avoid going head-to-head with the NFL’s Wild Card weekend. The higher seeds will receive preferential placement in the Playoff semifinal games.

National championship

Monday, Jan. 20

• National championship game in Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

The title game will remain on Monday night, as the NFL’s Divisional Round owns the weekend, but two weeks later than it is currently. Atlanta has already been selected as the site for the 2024-2025 national championship game.

(Top photo: Ronald Martinez /Getty Images)