Championship Weekend was one for the ages as there was plenty of intrigue and heartbreak to go around.
Perhaps, more importantly, the results — Georiga beating Texas and Clemson beating SMU — put the CFP committee in a real bind, forcing their hand with Alabama, and ultimately deciding to leave them out for just the third time in the CFP's existence.
With the College Football Playoff Bracket now set, 12 teams will set their sights on winning the CFP National Championship come January.
Updated 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket
The results are in, and the final college football playoff bracket has been finalized following the CFP selection committee's latest decisions. Check back weekly for an updated look — and also check out each team's College Football National Championship odds.
How the 2025 CFP bracket will work
Under the revamped format, the first five conference champions, based on rankings, will secure automatic CFP spots. The next seven highest-ranked teams will fill out the remainder of the 12-team playoff field. A coveted first-round bye goes to the four front-runners.
The No. 5 through No. 12 seeds will face off in the first round, with the higher-ranked teams getting to play those games at home. The first-round match lineup includes No. 5 vs. No. 12, No. 6 vs. No. 11, No. 7 vs. No. 10, and No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchups. These first-round games are slated to commence around Saturday, Dec. 21.
Victorious first-round teams will be pitted against the Top-4 seeds, with no reseeding occurring. The leading team thus squares off against the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 8 matchup.
Quarterfinal games happen at the New Year's Six bowl games including the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl in 2024, and the Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl in 2025. The semifinals, determined on a rotating basis, take place at the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl in 2024, and the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl in 2025. Bidding will determine the location of the National Championship Game.
College Football Playoff bracket key dates
| Round | Dates | Matchup(s) |
|---|---|---|
| First round | December 20-21 | No. 12 at No. 5 No. 9 at No. 8 No. 11 at No. 6 No. 10 at No. 7 |
| Quarterfinals | December 31-January 1 | No. 4 vs. winner of No. 12 vs. No. 5 No. 1 vs. winner of No. 9 vs. No. 8 No. 3 vs. winner of No. 11 vs.. No. 6 No. 2 vs. winner of No. 10 vs. No. 7 |
| Semifinal 1 | January 9 | Capital One Orange Bowl |
| Semifinal 2 | January 10 | Goodyear Cotton Bowl |
| Championship | January 20 | CFP National Championship Game |
College Football Playoff Bracket FAQs
The new 2025 college football playoff bracket shows the 12 selected NCAA college football teams that will compete for a shot at the CFP National Championship on January 20, 2025.
Starting with the 2024/25 season, there are four rounds in the college football playoff bracket: The first round, the quarterfinals, the semifinals and the National Championship.
The current CFP brackets are all hypotheticals based on rankings — the official bracket will be set on December 12, 2024.
Oregon, Texas, Miami, and Boise State are currently the Top 4 teams based on the latest CFP projected rankings.
The Oregon Ducks are the current favorites to win the College Football Playoff.
