For the first time, 12 teams will have a chance to win the CFP National Championship in January. The expanded College Football Playoff Bracket will be an exciting addition to the college football postseason, with bettors eagerly tracking the odds to make the College Football Playoff.
Updated 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket
We've outlined how the new bracket will look based on a ranking of the best college football teams ahead of the season. Check back weekly and on Nov. 5 for the first CFP Selection Committee rankings for an updated look and check our latest college football odds, as well as each team's College Football National Championship odds.
The final bracket will be announced on December 12.
Odds to make the College Football Playoff
- Oregon: -3,500
- Georgia: -1,700
- Texas: -1,100
- Ohio State: -850
- Miami: -650
- Penn State: -650
- Clemson: -195
- Tennessee: -190
- Notre Dame: -170
- Boise State: -140
- Iowa State: -140
- Alabama: -115
- Indiana: +100
- Texas A&M: +100
- BYU: +135
- Kansas State: +155
- Mississippi State: +190
- SMU: +200
- LSU: +220
- Pittsburgh: +500
- Colorado: +500
Odds as of 10/29, courtesy of FanDuel. Get more odds from the best college football betting sites.
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 Game.
No. The bracket will be set in early December, 2024.
For the 2024 CFP, the Michigan Wolverines, Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies made up the CFP bracket.
