The College Football Playoff is officially expanding to 12 teams beginning in the 2024-'25 season, the CFP Board of Managers announced on Thursday.
The first round of the playoff in 2024 will begin on Saturday, Dec. 21 at the stadium of the higher-seeded team. The quarterfinal and CFP Semifinal games will then begin at bowl sites, which will rotate on a yearly basis.
“We’re delighted to be moving forward,” said Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff, in a news release. “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.”
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧: The College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams beginning in the 2024-25 season!
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 1, 2022
Details » https://t.co/O4ZiAOQ4HZ#CFBPlayoff 🏈🏆 pic.twitter.com/5ZTVGXTZbo
The 2024 quarterfinals will be played in the Fiesta Bowl, the Peach Bowl, the Rose Bowl, and the Sugar Bowl, while the Semifinals will be played in the Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl.
The 2025 CFP quarterfinals will be played in the Cotton Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl, and the Sugar Bowl, while the Semifinals are played in the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl.
The 2025 National Championship Game will be played on Jan. 20 in Atlanta, and the 2026 National Championship Game will be played on Jan. 19 in Miami.
The ACC's representative on the CFP Board of Managers is Clemson President Jim Clements, and the Big Ten is represented by Ohio State President Kristina Johnson.
“This is a great day for college football,” said Mark Keenum, President of Mississippi State University and the chairman of the CFP Board of Managers, in a release. “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.”