The College Football Playoffs (CFP) started in 2014 and consisted of four teams. This started the name “the new era of college football.” Within the playoffs, the championship was decided between the top two teams, and it was just one game to see who the champion would be.
Every single year, controversy is created when the CFP bracket gets released, and people become upset because they believe different teams should’ve been in the playoffs. A perfect example of this was the uproar created when the 2023 Florida State Seminoles were undefeated, yet excluded from the playoffs.
Many people were fuming that the playoff committee made this decision, but FSU got blown out by the Georgia Bulldogs 63-3 in the Orange Bowl, which backed the committee’s decision. This is just one of many specific examples of how the playoff committee could get a decision either right or wrong, and how normal everyday fans will always agree or disagree with their choices.
With the opening of eight more spots in later years, many analysts believe there will be less controversy, and even more competition in the playoffs.
The playoff bracket for 2024 will work as follows:
- 1 through 4 seeds get a first round bye
- Higher seed will host the first round: 12 seed at the 5 seed, 11 seed at the 6 seed, 10 seed at the 6 seed, and the 9 seed at the 8 seed
- The second round will be considered bowl games, which will include: Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Cotton Bowl
- The 1 seed will play the winner between 8 and 9
- The 2 seed will play the winner between 7 and 10
- The 3 seed will play either the 6 or 10 seed
- Finally, the 4 seed will play against the winner of the 5 and 12 seed
With these changes next year, the playoffs will extend the post season a few more weeks, and in turn the league will make a greater profit. To decide who the twelve teams will be, the first six in will be those with the highest ranked conference championship record. The last six will be decided just like past years, the playoff committee will get together and discuss what teams could squeeze into the playoffs, and which teams won’t make the cut.
Factors that will determine the teams that will get a first round bye will be who has a tougher strength of schedule, who has the higher overall record, as well as the teams conference record. Based on that, all 12 of the teams will be set for the playoffs. The College Football Committee decided to make this drastic change during the 2024 to help accommodate the changes of the conferences.
For example, there are many conference changes that will first be seen in 2024. Examples of this is the Big Ten expanding to 18 teams, the ACC going to 17 teams, the SEC and Big 12 venturing out to 16 teams, while the PAC-12 reducing to only two teams. With the 2024 college football season only being five months away, everyone in the football community is excited to get back and watch their team battle it out for a shot at the national championship.
