College Football Playoff announces official expansion to 12 teams in 2024
The College Football Playoff will officially expand to 12 teams for the 2024 season, the CFP board of managers announced on Thursday.
After months of working through the logistics of potential expansion, the path was cleared late Wednesday when the Rose Bowl agreed to a deal to expand in 2024 and 2025.
“We’re delighted to be moving forward,” said Hancock, per the College Football Playoff. “When the board expanded the playoff beginning in 2026 and asked the CFP Management Committee to examine the feasibility of starting the new format earlier, the Management Committee went right to work. More teams and more access mean more excitement for fans, alumni, students and student-athletes.
“We appreciate the leaders of the six bowl games and the two future national championship game host cities for their cooperation. Everyone realized that this change is in the best interest of college football and pulled together to make it happen.”
In September, the 11-member CFP selection committee agreed to expand the playoff after it had featured a four-team format since 2014.
The 2024-25 playoff will feature six conference champions and the next six-highest-seeded teams. The four highest-seeded teams will receive first-round byes. The first round will begin the week of Dec. 21, with those games being hosted at the home stadium of the highest-seeded team or an alternative site chosen by that program that makes logistical sense.
Quarterfinal and semifinal games will be hosted at bowl game sites. The Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Rose Bowl will host the quarterfinals in 2024-25, while the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl will host the semifinals.
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The 2025 national championship game will be played Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
“This is a great day for college football,” said Mark Keenum, president of Mississippi State University and chairman of the CFP Board of Managers. “I’m glad we are able to follow through and launch the expanded playoff early. It’s very exciting for schools, alumni and everyone involved.”
Pac-12 announces extension of championship game in Las Vegas
Shortly after news broke of the CFP’s official expansion to a 12-team playoff, the Pac-12 made another noteworthy announcement.
In a press release, the conference revealed that has reached an agreement with Allegiant Stadium that will see the venue continue to host the Pac-12 Football Championship game through 2023.
“As the sports and entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas has been an amazing home for our premier Pac-12 events and Allegiant Stadium is an amazing setting to host our football championship for our teams, student-athletes and fans,” Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said.
The No. 4 USC Trojans and No. 11 Utah Utes will face off in the Pac-12 title game Friday, December 2 at 5 p.m. PT. A win for the Trojans would secure a trip to the College Football Playoff.
