The College Football Playoff is entering year three of its 12-team format and new qualifications are in place for the 2026-27 CFP.
Even ahead of year 2 of the 12-team format in 2025-26, notable changes were made in terms of how teams could qualify, let alone earn a first-round bye. Additionally, the new format also paved the way for a Group of Six conference team to land a spot in the bracket.
One year later, with new guidelines from conference champions to first-round byes, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s CFP:
Who Qualifies For The CFP?
Can Curt Cignetti lead the Hoosiers to back-to-back CFP National Championships? (Photo by Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Four of the 12 spots will go to conference champions from the Power Four, which includes the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 conferences. However, the conference champions do not receive an automatic first-round bye unless they are a top-4 team in the CFP’s final top-25 rankings.
A fifth spot will field the highest ranked team from the Group of Six conferences, regardless if it’s a conference champion or not. The Group of Six includes Conference USA, American, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sunbelt.
The rest of the qualifiers will come from the CFP’s final top-25 rankings and be seeded one through 12 based on the final standings. Notably, Notre Dame will receive an automatic bid if they are a top-12 team in the final CFP rankings.
How Are Teams Seeded In The 12-Team Bracket?
(Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
The four highest ranked teams from the CFP’s final top-25 rankings – no matter if the team is a conference champion or not – will receive the top four spots and an automatic first-round bye.
The rest will be fielded five through 12 and play first round games, with the higher-seeded opponent named the host site for their respective game. The seeding will look like this:
No. 5 (host) vs. No. 12
No. 6 (host) vs. No. 11
No. 7 (host) vs. No. 10
No. 8 (host) vs. No. 9
How Do Tiebreakers Work?
(Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
One of the larger debates of last season’s CFP was Miami receiving a spot over Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish and the Hurricanes both ended with a 12-2 record. So what exactly did the CFP Selection Committee look at in terms of a tiebreaker?
- Head-to-head results
- Strength of schedule
- Comparative outcomes against common opponents
- Conference championships won
- Availability of key players and coaches
What Is The CFP Schedule?
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
First Round
- Friday, Dec. 18: 8 p.m. ET
- Saturday, Dec. 19: 12 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. ET
Quarterfinal
- Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ): Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA): Friday, Jan. 1 at TBD
- Cotton Bowl (Arlington, TX): Friday, Jan. 1 at TBD
- Peach Bowl (Atlanta): Friday, Jan. 1 at TBD
Semifinal
- Orange Bowl (Coral Gables, FL): Thursday, Jan 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Sugar Bowl (New Orleans): Friday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET
CFP National Championship
- Monday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Las Vegas)
Joel Klatt’s 2026 College Football Playoff Bracket Prediction & National Champion Pick
Joel Klatt reveals his College Football Playoff bracket and national champion picks.
