College Football Playoff: ESPN predicts final 12-team CFP bracket, full bowl slate ahead of Selection Sunday

With the College Football Playoff about to be set in stone, teams competed harder than ever to cement their spot in the 12-team playoff during conference championship weekend. On Sunday, ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach updated their 2024 playoff predictions and bowl projections after the conference title games.

In the new expanded playoff format, the five highest ranked conference champions will receive automatic bids with the highest four ranked of those teams getting first-round byes. The remaining eight teams will play each other for the right to move on with the No. 5 through No. 8 teams all getting to host home games.

After that, the four winners from those games will advance to face the top four seeds in the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal and semifinals games will make up the traditional New Year’s Six bowl games, culminating with the national championship on Jan. 20.

You can view the full 2024 College Football Playoff projections from ESPN below.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #1

Bonagura: No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Notre Dame
Schlabach: No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Penn State

Both ESPN writers have Clemson getting the final seed in the playoff and hitting the road after winning the ACC. Bonagura has the Tigers going to South Bend.

As for Schlabach, Clemson will have to go to Penn State after the Nittany Lions lost the Big Ten title. Either way, a raucous environment awaits.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #2

Bonagura: No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Texas

This is where this matchup differs. Bonagura is going with Alabama getting into the playoff and heading to Columbus.

Schlabach has SMU staying in the bracket and kicking Alabama out. In this case, they’ll head to Texas for an in-state matchup in the first round of the playoff.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #3

Bonagura: No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Texas
Schlabach: No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame

Indiana grabs the No. 10 seed from both ESPN writers in this playoff projection. Bonagura has the Hoosiers going to Texas in what is a wild matchup.

On the flip side, Schlabach opted for Indiana to head to South Bend to take on the Irish. The feel good story heading to a historic power. Gotta love it.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #4

Bonagura: No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Penn State
Schlabach: No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State

Both ESPN writers have the exact same thing, sort of. An SEC-Big Ten matchup in the first round with Tennessee going in the round to begin the playoff.

However, Penn State drops below Ohio State according to Bonagura but stay in front of the Buckeyes according to Schlabach. It just depends on how you weigh head to head and the Big Ten Championship

CFP Quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl

Bonagura: No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Arizona State
Schlabach: No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 4 Arizona State

Both writers have their No. 5 seed advancing and taking on Arizona State in the Fiesta Bowl. Don’t overlook the Sun Devils though.

Cam Skattebo has been dominant all season long and he put his talents on full display during the Big 12 Championship. Good luck defending him to keep a playoff run alive.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl

Bonagura: No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Boise State
Schlabach: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 3 Boise State

Another similar situation here, just different No. 6 seeds taking on Boise State. The Broncos earned their first round bye in the playoff with a Mountain West title and 12-1 record this year.

But looking at this game on a neutral field, Boise State will definitely be a betting underdog against Ohio State or Texas. It’s the playoffs though. Anything can happen.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl

Bonagura: No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Oregon

Oregon earned the No. 1 seed with a Big Ten title and 13-0 record this season. They’ll get the traditional spot at the Rose Bowl and welcome Ohio State or Tennessee, depending upon who you follow for playoff projections.

Ohio State would get a rematch with the Ducks here after a one point loss earlier this year. Tennessee would beat Penn State to get to this point, per Bonagura.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl

Bonagura: No. 7 Texas vs. No. 2 Georgia
Schlabach: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Georgia

Georgia is set to get the No. 2 spot after beating Texas for the second time this season. The SEC Champs will welcome Texas for a third meeting according to Bonagura.

Schlabach has Notre Dame getting to the next round and taking on the Bulldogs. Either way, the Sugar Bowl will be a must-see in the playoff.

CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl

Bonagura: No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Georgia
Schlabach: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 2 Georgia

Georgia wins in both scenarios and Bonagura actually has the Bulldogs beating Texas three times! They’ll take on Ohio State.

Schlabach opted for Georgia and Texas’ third matchup to come in the semifinals. But it looks like Georgia has their number right now.

CFP Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl

Bonagura: No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 1 Oregon

Both ESPN writers projected the same playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl. Oregon will take on Arizona State in an old school Pac-12 matchup. Isn’t that weird?

But also, that’s how good Arizona State is right now. Can you imagine this run? From last in the Big 12 to CFP semifinals.

CFP National Championship

Bonagura: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 1 Oregon

Both writers have Georgia and Oregon, the top two teams, squaring off for the title. Schlabach actually had this matchup last week as well.

Bonagura is back on the Georgia train too. Now it’s matter of if Dan Lanning finally climbs the mountain or Kirby Smart gets his third title in four years.

Complete Bowl Schedule

Matchups in bold have been confirmed, per ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 14

Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC
Jackson State vs. South Carolina State

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
South Alabama vs. Western Michigan

Tuesday, Dec. 17

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN
Memphis vs. West Virginia

Wednesday, Dec. 18

Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Western Kentucky vs. James Madison

LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: California vs. UNLV
Schlabach: California vs. UNLV

Thursday, Dec. 19

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
7 p.m., ESPN2
Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston

Friday, Dec. 20

StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Ohio vs. Jacksonville State

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Oklahoma vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Vanderbilt vs. Tulane

Monday, Dec. 23

Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
11 a.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA
Schlabach: Coastal Carolina vs. North Carolina

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
2:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Schlabach: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State

Tuesday, Dec. 24

Hawai’i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN
South Florida vs. San Jose State

Thursday, Dec. 26

GameAbove Sports Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Pittsburgh vs. Toledo
Schlabach: Marshall vs. Toledo

Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Rutgers vs. Kansas State
Schlabach: Rutgers vs. Kansas State

68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Bowling Green vs. Arkansas State
Schlabach: Bowling Green vs. Arkansas State

Friday, Dec. 27

Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon or 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Louisiana vs. Vanderbilt
Schlabach: Boston College vs. Arkansas

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
Noon or 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Navy
Schlabach: Texas Tech vs. Navy

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
7 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: TCU vs. Arkansas
Schlabach: TCU vs. Missouri

DirecTV Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
8 p.m.
Bonagura: SMU vs. Washington State
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Washington State

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
10:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Texas A&M vs. USC
Schlabach: Texas A&M vs. USC

Saturday, Dec. 28

Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN
Bonagura: UConn vs. Virginia Tech
Schlabach: UConn vs. Pittsburgh

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: Georgia Tech vs. Nebraska
Schlabach: Georgia Tech vs. Nebraska

Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
2:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Texas State vs. North Texas
Schlabach: Texas State vs. North Texas

Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Miami vs. Iowa State
Schlabach: Miami vs. Iowa State

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m., CW Network
Bonagura: Miami (Ohio) vs. Colorado State
Schlabach: Miami (Ohio) vs. Colorado State

Go Bowling Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
5:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: East Carolina vs. Boston College
Schlabach: East Carolina vs. NC State

Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
7:30 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: BYU vs. Colorado
Schlabach: BYU vs. Colorado

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Army vs. Marshall
Schlabach: Army vs. Oklahoma

Monday, Dec. 30

TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Iowa vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Ole Miss

Tuesday, Dec. 31

ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Michigan vs. Florida
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Florida

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Louisville vs. Washington
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Washington

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Illinois vs. South Carolina
Schlabach: Illinois vs. South Carolina

Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Baylor vs. LSU
Schlabach: Baylor vs. LSU

Thursday, Jan. 2

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Syracuse vs. Missouri
Schlabach: Duke vs. Alabama

Friday, Jan. 3

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
4 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. NC State
Schlabach: UTSA vs. Louisiana

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Duke vs. Minnesota
Schlabach: Virginia Tech vs. Minnesota

Saturday, Jan. 4

Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN2
Buffalo vs. Liberty