The College Football Playoff has arrived.
After several weeks of speculations and predictions, the 12-team CFP bracket will be finalized at noon ET during the final College Football Playoff rankings unveiling.
The Week 14 CFP rankings stirred up quite the post-ranking conversation with the at-large teams in the 12-team field, and Sunday’s rankings will surely follow suit.
Will Alabama remain part of the field with three losses? Will Arizona State be among the top four conference champions who have a first-round bye? Will SMU be rewarded for its undefeated conference play despite losing to Clemson in the ACC championship game?
Speaking of those at-large teams, the expanded field from four to 12 teams is one of several new additions to the CFP.
Here’s what you need to know on how many teams will be in the CFP this season and more:
How many teams are in College Football Playoff?
For the first time in the College Football Playoff era, the CFP will be more than just four teams, expanding to 12 total.
The previous model, in use from 2014 through 2023, allowed for only four teams to make the playoff. Its predecessor, the BCS, allowed for a two-team, single-game playoff that decided the national championship.
Which teams make 12-team CFP?
The 12 teams that make up the College Football Playoff are the five highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large bids. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. Meanwhile, the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion will also gain entry, but must play a first-round game.
Entering Sunday’s CFP rankings, the likely four automatic qualifiers that will receive a first-round bye include Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State. After winning its eighth ACC championship in the last 10 years, Clemson likely secured itself as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, and will likely be slotted at the No. 12 seed.
When do final CFP rankings come out?
The sixth and final set of CFP rankings will be released at noon ET on Sunday, Dec. 8.
How to watch CFP rankings show today?
Date: Sunday, Dec. 8
Time: Noon ET
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming options: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo
The final College Football Playoff rankings will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Streaming options for the CFP rankings include the ESPN app (by logging in with your TV provider credentials), ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks.
