College Football Playoff rankings: What would a 12-team bracket look like now?

Exploring the 12-team College Football Playoff scheduled for next season, The Athletic utilizes the latest CFP selection committee rankings to demonstrate the functionality of the new format.

Utilizing the committee’s Nov. 21 rankings and the CFP’s previously announced 2024-25 game dates, the bracket seedings and site locations for the upcoming season are illustrated. Note: The Orange and Cotton bowls are set to host the two semifinals, with the national championship game taking place in Atlanta.

Top 4 seeds (first-round byes)

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

In the new setup, the top four seeds will be reserved for the four highest-ranked conference champions. For our purposes, we’re designating each conference’s top-ranked team as its champion. This means No. 1 Georgia (SEC No. 1), No. 2 Ohio State (Big Ten), No. 4 Washington (Pac-12), and No. 5 Florida State (ACC) would receive a bye into the quarterfinals.

Notably, Washington will not be in the Pac-12 next year, but considering conference realignment in this hypothetical scenario would complicate matters.

Nos. 5-12 seeds

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

Currently, the original plan to select the six highest-ranked conference champions continues, along with the six highest-ranked at-large teams. The commissioners have proposed changing it to five champions/seven at-large teams, considering the Pac-12’s shift from a power conference. However, for this season, the Pac-12 remains unchanged.

Should the season conclude today, the fifth- and sixth-highest-ranked conference champions would be No. 7 Texas (Big 12) and No. 23 Tulane (AAC), joined by the six highest-ranked remaining teams: No. 3 Michigan, No. 6 Oregon, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 Missouri, No. 10 Louisville, and No. 11 Penn State.

The CFP schedule

All times Eastern.

First round

Friday, Dec. 19

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

Saturday, Dec. 20

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

The four first-round games are slated to take place on the campuses of the Nos. 5-8 seeds over the third weekend in December. The assignment of games to specific time slots will likely be determined by TV, with prime time likely reserved for Alabama.

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, Dec. 31

• Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Washington vs. Oregon-Penn State winner, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan 1

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

The CFP has already outlined the dates and sites for the four quarterfinal bowl games, stating that “the higher seeds would receive preferential placement in the Playoff semifinal games.”

Semifinals

Thursday, Jan. 9

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

Friday, Jan. 10

• Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State/No. 7 Texas/No. 10 Louisville vs. No. 3 Washington/No. 6 Oregon/No. 11 Penn State, 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.

National championship

Monday, Jan. 20

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

The CFP had previously selected Atlanta as its site for the 2024-2025 national championship game, with Miami scheduled to host in 2025-26.

(Photo: Ali Gradischer / Getty Images)