The College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape has been drastically changing over the last decade, and even more changes are expected soon.
The College Football Playoff was first introduced as a 4-team tournament at the end of 2024-15 season, and expanded to 12 teams 10 years later (2024-25). Reports indicate that the playoffs will be expanded to a 24-team format as soon as the 2027-28 season.
For now, here's everything you need to know about the 12-team College Football Playoff, including qualification, format, dates, and past winners.
How do teams qualify for the College Football Playoff?
The College Football Playoff is a 12-team tournament used to crown the National Champion of the college football season.
The 12 teams who participate in the College Football Playoff are selected by a 13-person committee. The selection process includes five automatic bids, and seven 'at-large' bids.
Automatic Bids: Automatic bids are given to the four highest-ranked conference champions. This typically means that the winner of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC gain automatic entry into the playoff. The next highest-ranked Group of 5 or conference champion from another conference is then selected for the fifth and final automatic bid.
At-Large Bids: The College Football Playoff Selection Committee selects the final seven best teams to make the playoff based on the committee's rankings.
Byes & Rankings: Seeds 1-4 are the four highest-ranked conference champions, and they receive a first-round bye. Seeds 5-12 are ranked by the committee and play in the first round games.
What is the College Football Playoff format?
The College Football Playoff is a single-elimination tournament featuring four rounds.
First Round: The top-four teams earn an automatic bye to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. The first round is contested by seed 5-12, with the higher seeds playing the lowest seeds.
Quarterfinals: The winner of each of the four first round games advance to the quarterfinals to play against one of the four teams who received a bye. The quarterfinals games include the Fiesta, Cotton, Rose and Peach Bowl.
Semifinals: The winners of the quarterfinal games then advance to the Semifinals, which features the Orange and Sugar Bowls.
National Championship: The College Football Playoff culminates in the winner-take-all National Championship game. The 2026 National Championship will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
See the example bracket for a clearer picture of the college football playoff formatting and matchups below:
College Football Playoff Bracket Example:
When are the College Football Playoffs?
The 2026-27 College Football Playoffs will begin December 18th, 2026, and culminate in the National Championship game on January 25th, 2027.
Round | Date(s) | Location / Bowl Games |
Playoff Team Selection | Dec. 6, 2026 | ESPN Broadcast |
First Round | Dec. 18-19, 2026 | Campus Stadiums |
Quarterfinals | Dec. 30, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027 | Fiesta, Cotton, Rose, Peach |
Semifinals | Jan. 14-15, 2027 | Orange, Sugar |
National Championship | Jan. 25, 2027 | Allegiant Stadium (LV) |
College Football Playoff Past Winners
The College Football Playoff began as a four-team playoff in the 2014-15 college football season. The playoff then expanded to 12 teams during the 2024-25 season.
Year | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
2025-26 | Indiana | 27-21 | Miami |
2024-25 | Ohio State | 34-23 | Notre Dame |
2023-24 | Michigan | 34-13 | Washington |
2022-23 | Georgia | 65-7 | TCU |
2021-22 | Georgia | 33-18 | Alabama |
2020-21 | Alabama | 52-24 | Ohio State |
2019-20 | LSU | 42-25 | Clemson |
2018-19 | Clemson | 44-16 | Alabama |
2017-18 | Alabama | 26-23 (OT) | Georgia |
2016-17 | Clemson | 35-31 | Alabama |
2015-16 | Alabama | 45-40 | Clemson |
2014-15 | Ohio State | 42-20 | Oregon |
Ohio State lifted the National Championship in the first season of the four-team playoff, and 10 years later, lifted the National Championship again in the first season of the 12-team playoff.
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