It’s that exciting time of year again when college football fans are hopeful about their team’s chances of making it into the College Football Playoff. This year is particularly thrilling, with an expanded format introducing many new teams and fan bases eagerly anticipating where they’ll land in the selection committee’s rankings.

We’ve gained insight into an early look at the rankings. Oregon, Georgia, Miami, and BYU have secured the top four spots, each receiving a predicted bye for the first round. Meanwhile, teams on the playoff bubble, such as Alabama, Tennessee, and Indiana, have also been projected to make the playoffs.

However, it’s important to remember that this is still speculative. There’s ample opportunity for teams to either rise or fall as the season progresses. By the season’s end, we might even see some surprising entries like undefeated Army or often overlooked Ole Miss making it into the top 12.

Below are the inaugural 2024 CFP Rankings.

2024 College Football Playoffs: Initial CFP Rankings

* – indicates a projected first-round bye

1. Oregon (9-0)*
2. Ohio State (7-1)
3. Georgia (7-1)*
4. Miami (9-0)*
5. Texas (7-1)
6. Penn State (7-1)
7. Tennessee (7-1)
8. Indiana (9-0)
9. BYU (8-0)*
10. Notre Dame (7-1)
11. Alabama (6-2)
12. Boise State (7-1)
13. SMU (8-1)
14. Texas A&M (7-2)
15. LSU (6-2)
16. Ole Miss (7-2)
17. Iowa State (7-1)
18. Pitt (7-1)
19. Kansas State (7-2)
20. Colorado (6-2)
21. Washington State (7-1)
22. Louisville (6-3)
23. Clemson (6-2)
24. Missouri (6-2)
25. Army (8-0)

CFP Bracket:

First Round Matches:

• No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Ohio State
• No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Penn State
• No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee

Quarterfinals:

• No. 4 BYU vs. (Winner of No. 12 Boise State/No. 5 Ohio State)
• No. 3 Miami vs. (Winner of No. 11 Alabama/No. 6 Texas)
• No. 2 Georgia vs. (Winner of No. 10 Notre Dame/No. 7 Penn State)
• No. 1 Oregon vs. (Winner of No. 9 Indiana/No. 8 Tennessee)

2024 CFP Schedule:

All times are in Eastern Time.

First Round:

• Game 1: Friday, December 20 at 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN
• Game 2: Saturday, December 21 at 12 p.m. | TNT Sports
• Game 3: Saturday, December 21 at 4 p.m. | TNT Sports
• Game 4: Saturday, December 21 at 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN

Playoff Quarterfinals:

• Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: Tuesday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl: Wednesday, January 1 at 1 p.m. | ESPN
• Rose Bowl: Wednesday, January 1 at 5 p.m. | ESPN
• Allstate Sugar Bowl: Wednesday, January 1 at 8:45 p.m. | ESPN

Playoff Semifinals:

• Capital One Orange Bowl: Thursday, January 9 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Goodyear Cotton Bowl: Friday, January 10 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

National Championship:

• National Championship: Monday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

How to Watch the College Football Playoff Rankings Show

• Date: Tuesday, Nov. 5
• Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET
• Channel: ESPN
• Streaming: Fubo

Catch the CFP Rankings Show on ESPN with a Fubo subscription

Predictions for the College Football Playoff

Insights from YSL News

▪ Projected Byes

1. Oregon (Big Ten champion)
2. Georgia (SEC champion)
3. Miami (ACC champion)
4. BYU (Big 12 champion)

▪ First Round Matchups

• No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Ohio State
• No. 11 Indiana vs. No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Tennessee
• No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Penn State

Insights from CBS Sports

▪ Projected Byes

1. Georgia (SEC champion)
2. Ohio State (Big Ten champion)
3. Miami (ACC champion)
4. Iowa State (Big 12 champion)

▪ First Round Matchups

• No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Oregon
• No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 BYU
• No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Penn State

FOX Sports

▪ Teams with byes

1. Oregon (champion of the Big Ten)
2. Georgia (champion of the SEC)
3. Clemson (champion of the ACC)
4. BYU (champion of the Big 12)

▪ First round matchups

• No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Ohio State
• No. 11 Miami vs. No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 7 Penn State
• No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 8 Notre Dame

Upcoming CFP Bowl Games

This year’s quarterfinal and semifinal games will be held at the well-known New Year’s Six Bowls. These include the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Cotton, and Peach Bowls. Like in previous years with the four-team playoff seedings, these bowls will alternate hosting the quarterfinals and semifinals annually.

For 2024, the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl will serve as the quarterfinal locations, while the Cotton and Orange Bowls will host the semifinals.

CFP Champions History:

• 2014: No. 4 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Oregon, 42-20
• 2015: No. 2 Alabama defeated No. 1 Clemson, 45-40
• 2016: No. 2 Clemson defeated No. 1 Alabama, 35-31
• 2017: No. 4 Alabama defeated No. 3 Georgia, 26-23 (in overtime)
• 2018: No. 2 Clemson defeated No. 1 Alabama, 44-16
• 2019: No. 1 LSU defeated No. 3 Clemson, 42-25
• 2020: No. 1 Alabama defeated No. 3 Ohio State, 52-24
• 2021: No. 3 Georgia defeated No. 1 Alabama, 33-18
• 2022: No. 1 Georgia defeated No. 3 TCU, 65-7
• 2023: No. 1 Michigan defeated No. 2 Washington, 34-13

Seeding Process for the 12-Team Playoff

The top four seeds in the playoff are reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions, who will also receive first-round byes.

The fifth highest-ranked conference champion will secure a place in the CFP, but this does not guarantee them the No. 5 seed. The seeds from 5 to 12 will be established based on the final rankings of the highest-ranked non-conference champions.

CFP Rankings Show Schedule:

• Tuesday, Nov. 5: 7 – 8 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Nov. 12: 8:30 – 9 p.m. ET (approximate start time)
• Tuesday, Nov. 19: 7 – 8 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 – 9 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Dec. 3: 7 – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Sunday, Dec. 8: 12 – 4 p.m. ET (Selection Sunday)