What to know ahead of Selection Day for the College Football Playoff

After 15 weeks of thrilling action and shocking upsets, the College Football Playoff (CFP) is just about here. And it comes with added anticipation this year as, for the first time ever, 12 teams will be competing for a place in the College Football Playoff Championship Game instead of four.

On Sunday, a 13-person committee will release its final rankings, determining the field for this year’s playoffs. So, ahead of the first-of-its-kind event, here is everything you need to know.

Why is this year unique?

Previously, the CFP ran for just two rounds with four teams involved, but this year marks the first season with an expanded field allowing more teams to compete for a national championship.

In this new format, the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will fill the 12 spots in the bracket. There is no limit to how many teams from one conference can qualify – and it looks as if the Big Ten and SEC will dominate the field.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers facing SEC foe Texas A&M Aggies. – Maria Lysaker/Imagn Images/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

The final CFP rankings will not necessarily reflect the seeding of the 12 teams in the tournament. The top four conference champions will get a first-round bye into the quarterfinal round. If a team is ranked in the top four but is not a conference champion, it will be seeded fifth and will play in two weeks in the first round of the playoffs.

Once the seeds have been set, teams can look forward to a first round game on December 20 or December 21 at the home stadiums of the highest seeds.

Who are the top four seeds?

The four highest-ranked conference champions — likely Boise State, Georgia, Oregon and Arizona State, who all won this weekend in their conference championship games — are to be the top four seeds and will each receive…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/know-ahead-selection-day-college-064115113.html

Author : CNN

Publish date : 2024-12-08 06:41:00

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