CFP

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the postseason tournament for the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of college football in the United States. The FBS consists of elite universities and colleges and serves as the primary talent pool for the NFL and other professional leagues through the annual Draft.

Beginning with the 2024 season, the CFP expanded from a four‑team format to a 12‑team tournament, played at the end of the FBS regular season.

Teams are selected by the CFP Committee. The field includes automatic bids for the top five conference champions in the CFP Rankings, with the top four earning first‑round byes. The remaining seven spots are awarded to the highest‑ranked at‑large teams.

First‑round games are hosted on campus by the higher‑seeded teams. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate among the historic New Year’s Six bowl games — the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowls — and the National Championship is played at a separately chosen neutral site.

CFP Contents

College Football Playoff Champions

2025 National Champions

Indiana Hoosiers
2025
1 Title

Most Successful CFP Team

Alabama Crimson Tide
3 titles

BOWL GAMES

Cotton Bowl Classic 1937-
fiesta bowl 1971-
Orange bowl 1935-
Peach bowl 1968-
sugar bowl 1935-
Rose Bowl Game 1902 / 1916-

2026-2027 CFP Playoff SCHEDULE

First Round TBC
QuarterFinals December 30 / JANUARY 1
Semifinals JANUARY 14-15
National Championship JANUARY 25

SEASONS

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014

2025 CFP Season

National Champions: Indiana
Runner-up: Miami (FL)

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Miami (FL) def. Ole Miss — Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Indiana def. Oregon — Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Quarter-Finals (Bowl Games):
Miami (FL) def. Ohio State — Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Oregon def. Texas Tech — Capital One Orange Bowl
Indiana def. Alabama — Rose Bowl Game
Ole Miss def. Georgia — Allstate Sugar Bowl

First Round:
Alabama def. Oklahoma
Miami (FL) def. Texas A&M
Ole Miss def. Tulane
Oregon def. James Madison

Notes: Indiana won their first National Championship.

2024 CFP Season

National Champions: Michigan
Runner-up: Washington

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Michigan def. Alabama — Rose Bowl Game
Washington def. Texas — Allstate Sugar Bowl

Quarter-Finals (Bowl Games):
Michigan def. Ole Miss — Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Washington def. Missouri — Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Texas def. Oregon — Capital One Orange Bowl
Alabama def. Florida State — Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

First Round:
Liberty def. SMU
Missouri def. Ohio State
Ole Miss def. Penn State
Oregon def. Tulane

Notes: First year of the 12-team expanded playoff.

2023 CFP Season

National Champions: Michigan
Runner-up: Washington

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Michigan def. Alabama, 27–20 (OT) — Rose Bowl Game
Washington def. Texas, 37–31 — Allstate Sugar Bowl

Notes: Final year of the 4-team playoff.

2022 CFP Season

National Champions: Georgia
Runner-up: TCU

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
TCU def. Michigan — Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Georgia def. Ohio State — Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

2021 CFP Season

National Champions: Georgia
Runner-up: Alabama

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Alabama def. Cincinnati — Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Georgia def. Michigan — Capital One Orange Bowl

2020 CFP Season

National Champions: Alabama
Runner-up: Ohio State

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Alabama def. Notre Dame — Rose Bowl Game (AT&T Stadium)
Ohio State def. Clemson — Allstate Sugar Bowl

2019 CFP Season

National Champions: LSU
Runner-up: Clemson

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
LSU def. Oklahoma — Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Clemson def. Ohio State — PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

2018 CFP Season

National Champions: Clemson
Runner-up: Alabama

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Clemson def. Notre Dame — Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Alabama def. Oklahoma — Capital One Orange

2017 CFP Season

National Champions: Alabama
Runner-up: Georgia

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Georgia def. Oklahoma — Rose Bowl Game
Alabama def. Clemson — Allstate Sugar Bowl

2016 CFP Season

National Champions: Clemson
Runner-up: Alabama

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Alabama def. Washington — Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Clemson def. Ohio State — PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

2015 CFP Season

National Champions: Alabama
Runner-up: Clemson

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Clemson def. Oklahoma — Capital One Orange Bowl
Alabama def. Michigan State — Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

2014 CFP Season

National Champions: Ohio State
Runner-up: Oregon

Semi-Finals (Bowl Games):
Oregon def. Florida State — Rose Bowl Game
Ohio State def. Alabama — Allstate Sugar Bowl

Notes: First year of the College Football Playoff.

Playoff Format

The College Football Playoff uses a 12‑team single‑elimination format, featuring a mix of automatic qualifiers and at‑large selections. The system includes first‑round byes for the top four seeds, on‑campus first‑round games, and New Year's Six bowls hosting the Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

Team Selection

  • 12 teams qualify.
  • Automatic bids: Conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, plus the highest‑ranked Group of 6 champion. Notre Dame qualifies automatically if ranked in the top 12.
  • At‑large bids: Remaining highest‑ranked teams fill the field.

Seeding

  • Teams are seeded 1 through 12 by the CFP Selection Committee.
  • Seeds 1–4 receive a first‑round bye. Only conference champions are eligible for these top four seeds.
  • Seeds 5–12 play in the First Round.

First Round (On‑Campus)

Hosted by the higher seed:

  • 5 vs 12
  • 6 vs 11
  • 7 vs 10
  • 8 vs 9

Winners advance to face Seeds 1–4 in the Quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals

Played within the New Year’s Six bowls (Cotton, Orange, Rose, Sugar). The No. 1 seed selects its preferred Quarterfinal bowl site, followed by No. 2 and No. 3. The No. 4 seed is assigned the remaining site.

Semifinals

Hosted by rotating New Year’s Six bowls. Matchups follow the fixed bracket (no reseeding).

National Championship

A standalone title game at a neutral site selected through a bidding process.

Additional Notes

  • The bracket is not reseeded at any stage.
  • The 12‑team format will remain in place for the 2026 season.

PLAYOFF ROUNDS

The following is a list of College Football Playoff games, excluding the National Championship, which is shown above. From the 2014–15 through 2023–24 seasons, the semifinals rotated among the Rose, Sugar, Cotton, Orange, Fiesta, and Peach Bowls, with each bowl hosting a semifinal once every three years. A standalone National Championship game was played roughly a week later.

Beginning with the 2024–25 season, the Playoff expands to a 12‑team format featuring four rounds. First‑round games are played on campus sites, while the quarterfinals and semifinals continue to rotate among the same six bowl games. The postseason concludes with the standalone National Championship game.

SEASON/
PLAYOFF		 ROUND/
BOWL GAME		 WINNER SCORE LOSER stadium
2014
2014-15		 SEMI-FINALS
January 1

Rose Bowl
2 Oregon
DUCKS		 59-20
3 Florida State
SEMINOLES
ROSE BOWL
Pasadena,CA

Sugar Bowl
4 Ohio State
Buckeyes		 42-35
Alabama
CRIMSON TIDE
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans,LA
2015
2015-16		 SEMI-FINALS
December 31

Orange Bowl
1 Clemson
TIGERS		 37-17
4 Oklahoma
Sooners
SunLife Stadium
Miami Gardens,FL

Cotton Bowl
2 Alabama
Crimson Tide		 38-0
3 Michigan State
Spartans
AT&T Stadium
Arlington,TX
2016
2016-17		 SEMI-FINALS
December 31

Peach Bowl
1 Alabama
Crimson Tide 		24-7
4 Washington
HUSKIES
Georgia Dome
Atlanta,GA

Fiesta Bowl
Clemson
TIGERS		 31-0
3 Ohio State
Buckeyes
University of Phoenix Stadium
Glendale,AZ
2017
2017-18		 SEMI-FINALS
JANUARY 1

Rose Bowl
3 Georgia
Bulldogs 		54-48 (2OT)
2 Oklahoma
Sooners
ROSE BOWL
Pasadena,CA

Sugar Bowl
4 Alabama
Crimson Tide		 24-6
1 Clemson
Tigers
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans,LA
2018
2018-19		SEMI-FINALS
DECEMBER 29

Cotton Bowl
2 Clemson
Tigers		 30-3
3 Notre Dame
Fighting Irish
AT&T Stadium
Arlington,TX

Orange Bowl
1 Alabama
Crimson Tide		 45-34
4 Oklahoma Sooners
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens,FL
2019
2019-20		 SEMI-FINALS
December 27

Peach Bowl
1 LSU
Tigers		 63-28
4 Oklahoma Sooners
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta,GA

Fiesta Bowl
3 Clemson
Tigers		 29-23
2 Ohio State
Buckeyes
State Farm Stadium
Glendale,AZ
2020
2020-21		 SEMI-FINALS
JANUARY 1

Rose Bowl
1 Alabama
Crimson Tide		 31-14
4 Notre Dame
Fighting Irish
AT&T Stadium
Arlington,TX

Sugar Bowl
3 Ohio State
Buckeyes		 49-28
2 Clemson
Tigers
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans,LA
2021
2021-22		 SEMI-FINALS
Semifinals
DECEMBER 31

Cotton Bowl
1 Alabama
Crimson Tide		 27-6
4 Cincinnati
Bearcats
AT&T Stadium
Arlington,TX

Orange Bowl
3 Georgia
Bulldogs 		34-11
2 Michigan
Wolverines
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens,FL
2022
2022-23		 SEMI-FINALS
DECEMBER 31

Fiesta Bowl
3 TCU Horned
Frogs		 51-45
2 Michigan
WOLVERINES
State Farm Stadium
Glendale,AZ

Peach Bowl
1 Georgia
Bulldogs		 42-41
4 Ohio State
Buckeyes
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta,GA
2023
2023-24		 SEMI-FINALS
JANUARY 1

Rose Bowl
1 Michigan
WOLVERINES 		27-20 (OT)
4 Alabama
Crimson Tide
ROSE BOWL
Pasadena,CA
JANUARY 1

Sugar Bowl
2 Washington
HUSKIES		 37-31
3 Texas
Longhorns
Caesars Superdome
New Orleans,LA
2024
2024-25		 First round
(on campus)
December 20
7 Notre Dame
Fighting Irish		 27 VS 17
10 Indiana
Hoosiers
Notre Dame
Stadium
Notre Dame,IN
(on campus)
December 21
6 Penn State
Nittany Lions		 38 VS 10
11 SMU
Mustangs
Beaver Stadium
University Park,PA

5 Texas
LONGHORNS		 38 VS 24
12 Clemson
Tigers
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
Austin,TX

8 Ohio State
Buckeyes		 42 VS 17
9 Tennessee
Volunteers
Ohio Stadium
Columbus,OH
Quarter-Finals
DECEMBER 31

Fiesta Bowl
6 Penn State
Nittany Lions		 31-14
3 Boise State
Broncos
State Farm Stadium
Glendale,AZ
JANUARY 1

Peach Bowl
5 Texas
LONGHORNS		 39-31 (2OT)
4 Arizona State
Sun Devils
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta,GA
JANUARY 1

Rose Bowl
8 Ohio State
Buckeyes		 41-21
1 Oregon
DUCKS
ROSE BOWL
Pasadena,CA
January 2

Sugar Bowl
7 Notre Dame
Fighting Irish		 23-10
2 Georgia
Bulldogs
Caesars Superdome
New Orleans,LA
Semi-Finals
JANUARY 9

Orange Bowl
7 Notre Dame
Fighting Irish		 27-24
6 Penn State
Nittany Lions
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens,FL
JANUARY 10

Cotton Bowl
8 Ohio State
Buckeyes		 28-14
5 Texas
LONGHORNS
AT&T Stadium
Arlington,TX
2025
2025-2026		 First round
First round
(on campus)
DECEMBER 19, 2025
9 Alabama
Crimson Tide		 34 @ 24
8 Oklahoma
Sooners
Memorial Stadium
Norman,OK
First round
(on campus)
DECEMBER 20, 2025
10 Miami (FL)
Hurricanes		 10 @ 3
7 Texas A&M
Aggies
Kyle Field
College Station,TX

11 Tulane
Green Wave		 10 @ 41
6 Ole Miss
Rebels
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Oxford,MS

12 James Madison
Dukes		 34 @ 51
5 Oregon
Ducks
Autzen Stadium
Eugene,OR
Quarter-Finals
DECEMBER 31

Cotton Bowl
10 Miami
Hurricanes		 24 @ 14
2 Ohio State
Buckeyes
AT&T Stadium
Arlington,TX
JANUARY 1

Orange Bowl
5 Oregon
Ducks		 23 @ 0
4 Texas Tech
Red Raiders
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens,FL
JANUARY 1

Rose Bowl
9 Alabama
Crimson Tide		 3 @ 38
1 Indiana
Hoosiers
ROSE BOWL
Pasadena,CA
JANUARY 1

Sugar Bowl
6 Ole Miss
Rebels		 39 @ 34
Georgia
Bulldogs
Caesars Superdome
New Orleans,LA
Semi-Finals
JANUARY 8

Fiesta Bowl
10 Miami
Hurricanes		 31 @ 27
6 Ole Miss
Rebels
State Farm Stadium
Glendale,AZ
JANUARY 9

Peach Bowl
1 Indiana
Hoosiers		 56 VS 22
5 Oregon
Ducks
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta,GA

CFP National Championship logo

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

SEASON/PLAYOFF GAME WINNER SCORE LOSER STADIUM
2014
2014-2015
January 12, 2015
4 Ohio State
Buckeyes(1)		 42-20
2 Oregon
DUCKS
AT&T Stadium(1)
Arlington,TX(1)
2015
2015-2016
January 11, 2016
2 Alabama
Crimson Tide(1)
45-40
1 Clemson
Tigers
University of Phoenix Stadium(1)
Glendale,AZ(1)
2016
2016-2017
January 9, 2017
2 Clemson
Tigers (1)
35-31
1 Alabama
Crimson Tide
Raymond James Stadium(1)
Tampa,FL(1)
2017
2017-2018
January 8, 2018
4 Alabama
Crimson Tide (2)
26-23 (OT)
3 Georgia
Bulldogs
Mercedes-Benz Stadium(1)
Atlanta,GA(1)
2018
2018-2019
January 7, 2019
2 Clemson
Tigers (2)
44-16
1 Alabama
Crimson Tide
Levi's Stadium(1)
Santa Clara,CA(1)
2019
2019-2020
January 13, 2020
1 LSU
Tigers (1)		 42-25
3 Clemson
Tigers
Mercedes-Benz Superdome(1)
New Orleans,LA(1)
2020
2020-2021
January 11, 2021
1 Alabama
Crimson Tide (3)
52-24
3 Ohio State
Buckeyes
Hard Rock Stadium(1)
Miami Gardens,FL(1)
2021
2021-2022
January 10, 2022
3 Georgia
Bulldogs (1)
33-18
1 Alabama
Crimson Tide
Lucas Oil Stadium(1)
Indianapolis,IN(1)
2022
2022-2023
January 9, 2023
1 Georgia
Bulldogs (2)		 65-7
3 Texas Christian
Horned Frogs
SoFi Stadium(1)
Inglewood,CA(1)
2023
2023-2024
January 8, 2024
1 Michigan
Wolverines (1)		 34-13
2 Washington
Huskies
NRG Stadium(1)
Houston,TX(1)
2024
2024-2025
January 20, 2025
8 Ohio State
Buckeyes
34-23
7 Notre Dame
Fighting Irish
Mercedes-Benz Stadium(2)
Atlanta,GA(2)
2025
2025-2026
January 19, 2026
1 Indiana
Hoosiers		 27 VS 21
10 Miami
Hurricanes
Hard Rock Stadium(2)
Miami Gardens, FL(2)
FUTURE DATES
2026
2026-2027
January 25, 2027
Allegiant Stadium(1)
Paradise, NV(1)
2027
2027-2028
January 24, 2028
Mercedes-Benz Superdome(2)
New Orleans,LA(2)
2028
2028-2029
January 22, 2029
Raymond James Stadium(2)
Tampa,FL(2)
2029
2029-2030		 January 21, 2030
Hard Rock Stadium(3)
MIAMI GARDENS,FL(3)

Attendance at the January 2021 National Championship game was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

STANDINGS BY TEAM
Team A REC T RT RA
Alabama Crimson Tide 6 3-3 3 2020 2021
Clemson Tigers 4 2-2 2 2018 2019
Ohio State Buckeyes 3 2-1 2 2024 2024
Georgia Bulldogs 3 2-1 2 2022 2022
Indiana Hoosiers 1 1-0 1 2025 2025
Michigan Wolverines 1 1-0 1 2023 2023
LSU Tigers 1 1-0 1 2019 2019
Oregon Ducks 1 0-1 0 0 2014
Texas Christian Horned Frogs 1 0-1 0 0 2022
Washington Huskies 1 0-1 0 0 2023
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1 0-1 0 0 2024
Miami Hurricanes 1 0-1 0 0 2025

Year represents the season and not the year in which the National Championship took place as this is in January following the close of the season in December of the previous year.

LEGEND

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES BY CONFERENCE

Year represents the season and not the year in which the National Championship took place as this is in January following the close of the season in December of the previous year.

Conference A REC # Teams Team(s) Title seasons
SEC 10 6-4 3 Alabama (3-3)
Georgia (2-1)
LSU (1-0)		 2015, 2017, 2019,
2020, 2021, 2022
Big Ten 5 4-1 3 Ohio State (2-1)
Michigan (1-0)
Indiana (1-0)		 2014, 2023, 2024,
2025
ACC 5 2-3 2 Clemson (2-2)
Miami (0-1)		 2016, 2018
Pac-12 2 0-2 2 Oregon (0-1)
Washington (0-1)		 0
Big 12 1 0-1 1 TCU (0-1) 0
Independent 1 0-1 1 Notre Dame (0-1) 0

Team's conferences are when that team played in that conference and may not be their current conference.