How does College Football Playoff work? Bracket, schedule, time, TV for all CFP games

The College Football Playoff has undergone a significant change, with a new 12-team format, which paves the way for the top teams to continue their quest for the national title in a more expansive and competitive field.

For the first time in a decade, the College Football Playoff field has been increased, going from four teams to 12. With the expansion, the five highest-ranked conference champions received automatic bids to the CFP. Among these five programs, the four highest-ranked conference champions earned first-round byes and will advance directly to the quarterfinals.

The teams include Big Ten champion, Oregon, which claimed the No. 1 overall seed; SEC champion, Georgia, securing the No. 2 seed; Mountain West champion, Boise State, as the No. 3 seed; and Big 12 champion, Arizona State, rounding out the top four at the No. 4 seed.

The teams seeded No. 5 through No. 12 will face off in a series of highly competitive win-or-go-home first-round games. The winners of these games will advance to the quarterfinals to face the top four teams. Here is how the bracket shaped out:

WHO WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP? Our College Football Playoff bracket prediction

What bowl games are in College Football Playoff?

The College Football Playoff quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games:

• Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

• Capital One Orange Bowl

• Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

• Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

• Rose Bowl presented by Prudential

• Allstate Sugar Bowl

The College Football Playoff national championship game will not be among the six aforementioned bowls. It will take place on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

When do College Football Playoff games start?

The College Football Playoff first round is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21. ABC and ESPN will televise two of the four games, while TNT will broadcast the other two.

Fans looking to cut the cord can also stream the action with a Fubo subscription.

When is College Football Playoff first round?

All times Eastern

FRIDAY, DEC. 20

• Game 1: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Indiana, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

SATURDAY, DEC. 21

• Game 2: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 SMU, noon (TNT)

• Game 3: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson, 4 p.m. (TNT)

• Game 4: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

Catch CFP games with Fubo

When are College Football Playoff quarterfinals?

The four quarterfinal games will be played on New Year's weekend, with one game on Dec. 31 and three on Jan. 1. All games will be televised by ESPN.

All times Eastern

TUESDAY, DEC. 31

• Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. Penn State/SMU winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1

• Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. Texas/Clemson winner, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

• Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. Ohio State/Tennessee winner, 5 p.m. (ESPN)

• Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. Notre Dame/Indiana winner, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)

OPINION: Oregon's unbeaten season so impressed CFP committee that Ducks drew short straw

When are College Football Playoff semifinals?

The semifinal games will be played Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. Both games will be televised by ESPN.

All times Eastern

THURSDAY, JAN. 9

• Orange Bowl: Fiesta Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

FRIDAY, JAN. 10

• Cotton Bowl: Peach Bowl winner vs. Rose Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

When is College Football Playoff National championship?

MONDAY, JAN. 20

• at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

• Orange Bowl winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How does College Football Playoff work? CFP bracket, dates, time, TV