The era of the four-team College Football Playoff is ending after 10 years, with the 2024 season marking the debut of a 12-team playoff format.
The College Football Playoff is undergoing a significant expansion, with the current four-team format set to make way for a 12-team playoff starting in 2024. The expanded playoff system promises more opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship and has garnered praise from some of college football's biggest stars.
The new playoff format will feature seeds 1 through 4, which will be the highest-ranked conference champions and receive a bye. Seed 5 will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 rankings. The remaining teams will be the next best-ranked teams.
College Football Playoff Expansion to 12 Teams Unveiled
The expansion has been met with positive reactions from players such as Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who sees it as a great opportunity for teams to achieve their goal of winning a national championship. Colorado star Travis Hunter also expressed excitement about the increased possibilities for teams like his.
The end of the four-team era was not without its controversies, with 13-0 Florida State and back-to-back reigning champs Georgia failing to make it due to losses in championship games. However, Big Ten stars Donovan Edwards and Emeka Egbuka believe expanding to 12 teams is the right move.
College Football Playoff Expansion to 12 Teams Unveiled
"It's fair to a certain standpoint," said Edwards. "You can have a really successful season but lose one game and be out of the playoffs. I don't think that's fair."
Egbuka added that "every year, there's teams that are super-deserving of those spots, but there could only be four in the past, which is kind of limiting."
College Football Playoff Expansion to 12 Teams Unveiled
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the expansion provides more opportunities for smaller programs and reduces the margin for error.
One of the most exciting aspects of the expanded playoff is that seeds 5, 6, 7, and 8 will all have home playoff games. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier believes this will create unique matchups and increase the excitement for the sport.
The first-round games will take place on December 20-21, followed by the quarterfinals on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The semifinals are scheduled for January 9-10, and the championship game will be held on January 20, one week later than in the past.
