The College Football Playoff kicks off for the first time on Friday at 8 p.m. ET as No. 9 Indiana travels to Notre Dame Stadium to take on No. 3 Notre Dame in a first-round matchup. The first round games are being held on the campuses of the four highest at-large seeds, a departure from previous years of the CFP.
In this new format, the at-large teams hosting first-round games include Notre Dame, Texas, Penn State, and Ohio State. These games are taking place at sites known for their challenging environments, adding to the excitement.
The decision to expand the playoff to 12 teams was made in 2022 and unanimously approved. Originally scheduled for the 2026 season, the new format was moved up to 2024 to accommodate the change.
With the addition of more teams and games, there is increased anticipation for fans, students, and athletes. The home-field advantage for the higher seeds adds another layer of excitement, although the CFP will control certain aspects of the game presentation to maintain consistency across venues.
After the first round, the four winners will advance to the New York Six bowls for the quarterfinals against the top four seeds. There will be no re-seeding of the bracket following the first round.
In the upcoming College Football Playoff, the top-seeded team, No. 1, will face off against the winner of the match between No. 8 and No. 9. Meanwhile, No. 2 will take on the winner of the No. 7 versus No. 10 game, with No. 3 playing against the victor of the No. 6 versus No. 11 matchup, and No. 4 squaring off against the winner of the No. 5 versus No. 12 contest.
This setup dictates that the triumphant team from the clash between No. 12 Clemson and No. 5 Texas will advance to play against No. 4 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. The winner of the duel between No. 11 SMU and No. 6 Penn State will move on to face No. 3 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. The team emerging victorious from the battle between No. 10 Indiana and No. 7 Notre Dame will earn the opportunity to compete against No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Lastly, the winner of the matchup featuring No. 9 Tennessee against No. 8 Ohio State will progress to take on top-seeded No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
To better understand the workings of the College Football Playoff (CFP), it is necessary to delve into the details of the 12-team format, including the schedule and possible predictions.
The CFP’s first-round games will feature various matchups, with the lone game on Friday, Dec. 20 showcasing the No. 10 seed Indiana facing off against the No. 7 seed Notre Dame at 8 p.m. Eastern Time at Notre Dame Stadium. Notably, this matchup marks the first meeting between these Indiana programs since 1991.
On Saturday, Dec. 21, the other three first-round matchups will unfold. The action kicks off with the No. 11 seed SMU making the trip to face the No. 6 seed Penn State at noon Eastern Time. Following that, the No. 12 seed Clemson will go head-to-head with the No. 5 seed Texas at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Finally, the No. 8 seed Ohio State will host the No. 9 seed Tennessee in an evening match with an 8 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff.
Here is a comprehensive list of each first-round matchup in the 2024-25 College Football Playoff, complete with start times and TV channel information:
All times are Eastern.
Friday, Dec. 20
No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, Dec. 21
No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State | noon | TNT (SlingTV)
No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas | 4 p.m. | TNT (Sling)
