How the College Football Playoff Works
How the College Football Playoff works in 2026-27: 12 teams, five automatic bids (the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions and the highest-ranked team from the other six conferences) and seven at-large teams, all seeded by the committee ranking. The top four get byes, seeds 5 to 8 host the First Round and there is no reseeding.
Who Gets In
The selection committee ranks the top 25 teams weekly from early November and a final time on Selection Day. Five places are automatic: the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC, and the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt (it does not have to be a conference champion). Notre Dame qualifies automatically if it is in the top 12. The other seven places go to the highest-ranked remaining teams.
Seeding and Byes
Seeds follow the final ranking straight: the four highest-ranked teams are seeds 1 to 4 and skip the First Round, whether or not they won a conference. Seeds 5 to 12 are ordered by ranking too. This straight seeding replaced the 2024 rule that reserved the byes for conference champions.
The Four Rounds
The bracket is fixed: No. 1 plays the 8/9 winner and then the 4 v 5/12 side in the semifinals; No. 2 plays the 7/10 winner and then the 3 v 6/11 side.
Where the Games Are
First Round games are on the campus of seeds 5 to 8. The quarterfinals are the Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.), Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas), Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.) and Peach Bowl (Atlanta); the semifinals are the Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Fla.) and Sugar Bowl (New Orleans); the 2027 national championship is at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
How the Format Has Changed
| Seasons | Format |
|---|---|
| 2014 to 2023 | Four-team playoff picked by the committee |
| 2024 | 12 teams; byes for the four highest-ranked conference champions |
| 2025 | 12 teams; straight seeding, byes for the top four ranked teams |
| 2026 | 12 teams; automatic bids for the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions plus the top Group of Six team; Notre Dame in if top 12 |
Recent CFP National Championships
| Season | Champion | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Indiana | Miami | 27-21 |
That is the full College Football playoff format: 12 teams, five automatic bids, straight seeding with byes for the top four, campus first-round games and bowl quarterfinals and semifinals. Follow it live on the bracket and the CFP rankings, or pick your own with the predictor.
College Football playoff format FAQ
How many teams make the College Football Playoff?
Twelve: the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC, the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt, and the seven highest-ranked remaining teams.
Who gets a first-round bye?
The four highest-ranked teams in the final CFP rankings, whether or not they won their conference (straight seeding, used since 2025).
Where are First Round games played?
On campus: seeds 5, 6, 7 and 8 host seeds 12, 11, 10 and 9. Every later game is at a neutral bowl site.
Is the CFP bracket reseeded?
No. No. 1 plays the 8/9 winner, No. 2 the 7/10 winner, No. 3 the 6/11 winner and No. 4 the 5/12 winner, and the bracket stays fixed.
Can Notre Dame make the playoff?
Yes. As an independent it cannot win a conference title, but it qualifies automatically if it finishes in the top 12 of the final rankings.
How are the seeds decided?
Straight by the final CFP ranking: the highest-ranked team in the field is No. 1, the lowest No. 12. A conference title gets a team in but does not move it up the seed list.
When and where is the 2027 national championship?
Monday, Jan 25, 2027 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, 7:30 PM ET on ABC and ESPN. It is the first title game played in Las Vegas.
What happens in overtime?
College overtime: each team gets a possession from the 25-yard line; from the third overtime teams alternate two-point attempts until one leads.