College Football Playoff
Division I FBS · National playoff
Final: January 25, 2027
Tournament sites: Campus and neutral bowl sites
Format and selection
Expanded CFP (2026)
12 teams. Campus games on December 18–19 lead to bowl quarterfinals, bowl semifinals and a January 25, 2027 final.
- The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions qualify. The highest-ranked team from the other six FBS conferences also qualifies.
- The next seven highest-ranked teams fill the field. Notre Dame qualifies if ranked in the top 12; when that guarantee applies, the remaining at-large allotment is six.
- The four highest-ranked teams receive byes. Seeds 5–8 host seeds 12–9. The top seed selects its quarterfinal and semifinal path; the next seeds choose among the remaining quarterfinal sites.
- The committee evaluates the season using its voting protocol, considering schedule strength, head-to-head results, common opponents and other relevant circumstances. Computer rankings such as Colley do not directly allocate bowl berths.
These are documented selection procedures. They do not explain why a particular participant was chosen unless the source expressly records that decision.
History
The College Football Playoff replaced the Bowl Championship Series for the 2014 season. A selection committee chose four teams for two bowl semifinals and a separate national championship game.
The field expanded to 12 for 2024. Campus first-round games joined the six major bowl sites, which host quarterfinals and semifinals. Seeding and qualification rules have changed since expansion.
Related competitions: College Football Playoff National Championship · BCS National Championship