Early College Football Playoff Projections: Projecting the 12-Team Field for 2024-25
Table of Contents
- Early College Football Playoff Projections: Projecting the 12-Team Field for 2024-25
- College Football Playoff first-Round Predictions
- Understanding the College Football Playoff Expansion
- Key Numbers for the 2024-25 CFP
- College football Playoff Quarterfinal Predictions
- College Football Playoff Semifinal Predictions
- College Football playoff Championship Pick
- frequently Asked Questions
With the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to 12 teams, predictions for the 2024-25 season are rolling in. Here’s an early look at how the field might shape up, including first-round and quarterfinal matchups, as well as semifinal and championship picks.
The new CFP format will feature one first-round game on Friday, Dec. 19,and three on Saturday,Dec. 20. Quarterfinal games will be held at the Cotton Bowl Classic (Dec. 31), Capital One Orange Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential (Jan.1), and Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1). Semifinals are slated for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 8) and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Jan. 9), with the CFP National Championship set for Jan. 19 in Miami.
College Football Playoff first-Round Predictions
Here’s a breakdown of the projected first-round matchups, which will be played on campus sites:
| DATE | MATCHUP |
|---|---|
| Dec. 19 | No. 11 LSU at No.6 Notre Dame |
| Dec. 20 | No. 12 Navy at No. 5 Penn State |
| Dec. 20 | No. 10 Miami, Fla. at No. 7 Alabama |
| Dec. 20 | No. 9 Oregon at No.8 Arizona State |
“There is no way the CFP committee would not put this matchup first if it materializes.”
LSU at Notre Dame: This game could be a marquee matchup, highlighted by Brian Kelly’s return to Notre Dame with LSU.
Navy at Penn State: Navy, projected as the Group of 5 representative, faces a tough challenge against a strong Penn State team.
Oregon at Arizona State: A matchup between the Ducks and Sun Devils features a coaching dynamic between Dan Lanning and Kenny Dillingham.
Miami,Fla. at Alabama: Kalen DeBoer aims to lead Alabama back to the CFP, while Miami looks to capitalize on Carson Beck’s performance.
College football Playoff Quarterfinal Predictions
The quarterfinal matchups will be played at traditional New Year’s Six bowl sites:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
|---|---|---|
| Dec.31 | Cotton Bowl Classic | No. 1 Texas vs. No. 9 Oregon |
| Jan.1 | capital One Orange Bowl | No. 4 Clemson vs. No. 5 Penn State |
| jan. 1 | Rose Bowl Game | No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Alabama |
| Jan. 1 | Allstate sugar Bowl | no.3 Georgia vs. No.6 Notre Dame |
Texas vs. Oregon: Texas, projected as the No. 1 seed, faces a challenge against Oregon in the Cotton Bowl.
clemson vs. Penn State: A compelling matchup in the Orange Bowl, with both teams having memorable histories at the venue.
Ohio State vs.Alabama: This Rose Bowl matchup could feature Julian Sayin, who previously decommitted from Alabama, as the starting quarterback for Ohio State.
Georgia vs. Notre Dame: A rematch in the Sugar Bowl, recalling their previous low-scoring encounter.
College Football Playoff Semifinal Predictions
The semifinal matchups will be held at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 8 | Vrbo Fiesta Bowl | No. 2 Ohio State vs.No. 3 Georgia |
| Jan.9 | Chick-Fil-A peach Bowl | No. 1 texas vs. No. 5 Penn State |
Ohio State vs. Georgia: A potential classic in the Fiesta Bowl, with both teams aiming to capitalize on their experiences from the previous year.
Texas vs. Penn state: the Nittany Lions pose a challenge for texas, with both teams seeking their first CFP championship game appearance.
College Football playoff Championship Pick
The championship game is scheduled for Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Texas vs. Ohio State: A rematch of a previous encounter, with both teams representing the best in college football.
frequently Asked Questions
How does the 12-team playoff format work?
The 12-team format includes the six highest-ranked conference champions and the next six highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP Selection Committee.
When will the first-round games be played?
The first-round games are scheduled for December 19 and 20, and will be played on campus sites.
Where will the quarterfinal games be held?
The quarterfinal games will be played at the Cotton Bowl Classic, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Game, and Allstate Sugar Bowl.
