The format for the upcoming 2024 College Football Playoffs is officially set. The College Football Playoff Board of Managers announced on Tuesday a revision to the qualifying criteria for how the 12 teams will be selected.
The format is now the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP committee.
“This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022,” said Dr. Mark Keenum, President of Mississippi State University and Chair of the CFP Board of Managers in the release sent out on Tuesday. “I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason.”
The previous format included the six highest-ranked conference champions and the next six-highest ranked teams.
According to the release, here’s how the format officially shake out: “Under the 12-team playoff format that begins this fall, the four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and each will receive a first-round bye, while teams seeded five through 12 will play each other in the first round on the home field of the higher-ranked team. (The team ranked #5 will host #12; team #6 will meet team #11; team #7 will play team #10; and team #8 will meet #9.) The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in the New Year’s Six bowl games, the national championship game will continue to be at a neutral site. No conference will qualify automatically and there will be no limit on the number of participants from a conference.”
