The 2025 college football season will feature a 12-team College Football Playoff in its second year. The format includes five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams. Unlike the previous year, the top four ranked teams will receive first-round byes, while eight teams will compete at campus sites. The playoffs lead to quarterfinals and semifinals in traditional New Year's Six bowls, culminating in the national championship on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Additionally, a 35-game bowl slate begins on December 13, starting with the Cricket Celebration Bowl.
The highlight of that, of course, is the 12-team College Football Playoff, now in its second year. The five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams, will make the field.
Unlike last year, the four highest-ranked teams will be awarded first-round byes. The other eight teams will meet in first-round games at the campus sites of seeds Nos. 5 through 8.
Apart from the playoff is the 35-game slate of bowl games, beginning with the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13. We're here for all of it.
ESPN bowl gurus Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are nonetheless projecting every postseason matchup, including their breakdowns of how the playoff will play out, just to whet your appetite for the fun ahead.
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