When the College Football Playoff rankings are released: Playoff round information

by Junna Base November 10, 2024

The final month of the 2024 college football season is upon us and with it comes the weekly release of the College Football Playoff Rankings, which determine the teams competing for the national championship in January.

This year, the CFP field expanded to 12 teams, and the first release of the rankings set the stage for a lot of movement down the stretch. Oregon debuted at No. 1 as expected, while Ohio State, Georgia, Miami and Texas made up the rest of the top five based on results from the first ten weeks of the season.

However, the next rankings will not be released until after Week 11, when several more important games are on the schedule. The ranking of potential conference champions and the current pecking order for potential major teams make this season’s CFP rankings more important (and dramatic) than in previous years.

Here’s everything you need to know about how and when to watch the ESPN rankings reveal show and format for this year’s expanded College Football Playoff.

When will the College Football Playoff rankings be released?

The second College Football Playoff rankings of the 2024 season will be released on Tuesday, November 12th. A new top 25 ranking will be released by the CFP Selection Committee every Tuesday through December 3rd. A CFP selection show will be held on Sunday, December 8th to announce the 12-team playoff field.

What time are the CFP rankings?

The College Football Playoff rankings will be released each week via a CFP rankings show airing every Tuesday on ESPN from November 5th to December 3rd. This week’s show is scheduled to air on Tuesday, November 12th starting at 8:30 p.m. ET.

CFP Rankings Predictions and Projections

Here’s a sampling of some College Football Playoff predictions ahead of Week 11’s games:

Bleacher Report

Bye: No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Miami, No. 4 BYU
First round: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State
First round: No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Texas
First round: No. 10 Tennessee at No. 7 Notre Dame
First round: No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Penn State

Action Network

Bye: No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Miami, No. 4 BYU
First round: No. 12 Tennessee at No. 5 Ohio State
First round: No. 11 Boise State at No. 6 Texas
First round: No. 10 Penn State at No. 7 Notre Dame
First round: No. 9 Texas A&M at No. 8 Indiana

Sports News

Bye: No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Miami, No. 4 BYU
First round: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State
First round: No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Texas
First round: No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 7 Penn State
First round: No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee

Here’s how to watch the CFP rankings reveal

The College Football Playoff rankings show airs on ESPN. Broadcast begins Tuesday, November 12th at 8:30 p.m. ET. Fans can also stream the show on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Watch the CFP rankings release show with Fubo

How many teams are participating in the 2024 College Football Playoff?

This season marks the first time that 12 teams will participate in the College Football Playoff after college football adopted the CFP with a four-team format in 2014. The expansion to 12 teams is planned for the 2024 and 2025 college football seasons. Those responsible for the sport have not yet agreed to the playoffs’ scope beyond this at this point.

How does the College Football Playoff format work?

The 12 participating teams in the College Football Playoff round are the five highest-ranked conference champions by the CFP Selection Committee and the next highest seven teams.

The top four ranked conference champions are seeded one through four and receive a bye in the first round. The fifth conference champion will be seeded where they were among the top 12 teams, or No. 12 if they are outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Non-conference champions placed in the top four will be seeded starting at No. 5.

“For this reason,” the CFP warns on its website, “the rankings of Nos. 1 through 12 could look different than the final ranking.”

In the first round, the higher ranked team from each pairing (5v12, 6v11, 7v10, 8v9) will serve as on-campus hosts. The winners advance to the quarterfinals and face the corresponding top four conference champion based on seeding. Quarterfinal games will be played on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The semifinals – played at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic – will take place Jan. 9-10.

The two semifinal winners will play for the national championship on January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

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