OVERVIEW
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is a postseason event to determine college football’s national champion on the field, while emphasizing the significance of college football’s unique regular season where every game counts.
RANKINGS
The selection committee ranks the schools based on the members’ evaluation of their performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and comparison of results against common opponents.
THE BRACKET
The format of the College Football Playoff is built on a 12-team bracket. The 12 participating schools are the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked schools will be seeded 1-4 and will receive a first-round bye. The remaining teams, including the fifth conference champion, will be seeded 5-12 based on their final ranking.
TRADITION
The New Year’s holiday period and bowl games belong to college football. This season following the CFP First Round games on campus, the four Playoff Quarterfinal games will be played in the Cotton Bowl Classic, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Game and Sugar Bowl. The following week, the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl will host the Playoff Semifinals.
CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY
The two teams that win the Playoff Semifinals compete for the College Football Playoff National Championship. The national championship game is in a different city each year, always on a Monday night.
UNIVERSAL ACCESS
Every Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team has equal access to the College Football Playoff based on its performance during the regular season. No team automatically qualifies.
GOVERNANCE
University presidents and chancellors from all 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame serve as the board of managers and govern the administrative operations, with commissioners and Notre Dame athletics director (the Management Committee) managing the event. A small staff in the CFP office in Irving, Texas, carries out the day-to-day responsibilities.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
A talented group of 13 high-integrity individuals with experience as coaches, student-athletes, college administrators and journalists, along with sitting athletics directors, comprise the selection committee. Members of the committee are Chris Ault, Troy Dannen, Mark Dantonio, Jeff Long, Ivan Maisel, Chris Massaro, Randall McDaniel, Mack Rhoades (chair), Mike Riley, David Sayler, Wesley Walls, Carla Williams and Hunter Yurachek.
SELECTION COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Rank the top 25 teams, assign the schools to the 12-team playoff bracket and assign the Playoff Quarterfinal and Playoff Semifinal bowl sites.
