CFP Rankings: Projected bracket for first 12-team playoff

It’s that time of year again when the air is filled with hope from college football fans, wondering if their favorite team can earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. This year, there’s even more than usual though. With the expanded format comes a myriad of new schools and fanbases eager to figure out where they stand in the selection committee’s eyes.

Well, we’ve learned exactly that. Oregon, Georgia, Miami, and BYU were granted the top-four seeds and projected first round byes. While bubble teams like Alabama, Tennessee, and Indiana were all granted projected playoff bids.

Of course, this is all hypothetical. There is still a lot of time for teams to make a name for themselves or fall apart completely. Who knows? By the end of the season, perhaps some of the lower-ranked teams like undefeated Army or vastly underrated Ole Miss could burst into the top-12.

Here are the first official 2024 CFP Rankings.

College Football Playoffs 2024: First CFP rankings

* – projected first-round bye

1. Oregon (9-0)*
2. Ohio State (7-1)
3. Georgia (7-1)*
4. Miami (9-0)*
5. Texas (7-1)
6. Penn State (7-1)
7. Tennessee (7-1)
8. Indiana (9-0)
9. BYU (8-0)*
10. Notre Dame (7-1)
11. Alabama (6-2)
12. Boise State (7-1)
13. SMU (8-1)
14. Texas A&M (7-2)
15. LSU (6-2)
16. Ole Miss (7-2)
17. Iowa State (7-1)
18. Pitt (7-1)
19. Kansas State (7-2)
20. Colorado (6-2)
21. Washington State (7-1)
22. Louisville (6-3)
23. Clemson (6-2)
24. Missouri (6-2)
25. Army (8-0)

CFP bracket:

First Round:

• No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Ohio State
• No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Penn State
• No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee

Quarterfinals:

• No. 4 BYU vs. (No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Ohio State)
• No. 3 Miami vs. (No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 6 Texas)
• No. 2 Georgia vs. (No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Penn State)
• No. 1 Oregon vs. (No. 9 Indiana vs. No. 8 Tennessee)

CFP projected rankings 2024: Reactions and snubs

2024 CFP Schedule:

All times Eastern.

First Round:

• Game 1: Friday, December 20 at 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN
• Game 2: Saturday, December 21 at 12 p.m. | TNT Sports
• Game 3: Saturday, December 21 at 4 p.m. | TNT Sports
• Game 4: Saturday, December 21 at 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN

Playoff Quarterfinals Round:

• Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: Tuesday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl: Wednesday, January 1 at 1 p.m. | ESPN
• Rose Bowl: Wednesday, January 1 at 5 p.m. | ESPN
• Allstate Sugar Bowl: Wednesday, January 1 at 8:45 p.m. | ESPN

Playoff Semifinals Round:

• Capital One Orange Bowl: Thursday, January 9 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Goodyear Cotton Bowl: Friday, January 10 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

National Championship:

• National Championship: Monday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show 

• Date: Tuesday, Nov. 5
• Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Stream: Fubo

Watch the CFP Rankings Show on ESPN with a Fubo subscription

College Football Playoff predictions 

USA TODAY

Byes

1. Oregon (Big Ten champion)
2. Georgia (SEC champion)
3. Miami (ACC champion)
4. BYU (Big 12 champion)

First round

• No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State
• No. 11 Indiana at No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Tennessee
• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Penn State

CBS Sports

Byes

1. Georgia (SEC champion)
2. Ohio State (Big Ten champion)
3. Miami (ACC champion)
4. Iowa State (Big 12 champion)

First round

• No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Oregon
• No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 BYU
• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Penn State

FOX Sports

Byes

1. Oregon (Big Ten champion)
2. Georgia (SEC champion)
3. Clemson (ACC champion)
4. BYU (Big 12 champion)

First round

• No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State
• No. 11 Miami at No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Penn State
• No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Notre Dame

What bowl games will take place during the CFP?

Each of the four quarterfinals games and both semifinals games will be played at the current New Year’s Six Bowls. Those bowls include the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Cotton, and Peach Bowls. As was the case with the four-team playoff, those bowls will rotate between hosting the semifinal and quarterfinal games each year.

In 2024, the quarterfinal bowl games will be the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. The semifinal bowl games will be the Cotton and Orange Bowls.

History of CFP Champions:

• 2014: No. 4 Ohio State def. No. 2 Oregon, 42-20
• 2015: No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 Clemson, 45-40
• 2016: No. 2 Clemson def. No. 1 Alabama, 35-31
• 2017: No. 4 Alabama def. No. 3 Georgia, 26-23 (OT)
• 2018: No. 2 Clemson def. No. 1 Alabama, 44-16
• 2019: No. 1 LSU def. No. 3 Clemson, 42-25
• 2020: No. 1 Alabama def. No. 3 Ohio State, 52-24
• 2021: No. 3 Georgia def. No. 1 Alabama, 33-18
• 2022: No. 1 Georgia def. No. 3 TCU, 65-7
• 2023: No. 1 Michigan def. No. 2 Washington, 34-13

How does seeding work for the 12-team playoff?

Each of the top-four seeds will be granted to the highest-ranked conference champions. They will all earn first-round byes as well.

The fifth highest-ranked conference champion will also be guaranteed a spot in the CFP, but they are not guaranteed the No. 5 seed. Essentially, seeds 5-12 will be the highest-ranked non-conference champs, seeded based on their final rankings.

CFP Rankings Show Schedule:

• 7 – 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 5
• 8:30 – 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 12* (approx. start time)
• 7 – 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 19
• 8 – 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 26
• 7 – 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 3
• 12 – 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 8 (Selection Sunday)

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