The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff bracket is set. The undefeated Oregon Ducks claimed the top seed, while the SMU Mustangs edged the Alabama Crimson Tide to sneak into the field for the last spot. The Group of 5 automatic bid went to the Boise State Broncos, who also got a first-round bye as one of the highest-ranked conference champions. The Georgia Bulldogs (SEC) and Arizona State Sun Devils (Big 12) claimed the other two byes after winning their title games Saturday.
The monthlong march to the national championship game begins Dec. 20 with the No. 7 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish hosting the No. 10 seed Indiana Hoosiers. Three more first-round games will be played at campus sites on Dec. 21. The quarterfinals will be contested on Dec. 31 (Fiesta Bowl) and Jan. 1 (Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls). The semifinals held by the Orange and Cotton Bowls on Jan. 9 and 10, respectively, before Atlanta hosts the title game on Jan. 20.
Sports Illustrated college football writers Pat Forde and Bryan Fischer make their bracket predictions, plus the full CFP schedule with game times and TV information.
The stage is set. pic.twitter.com/n3HXN20Sl1
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 8, 2024
First Round
No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, 8 p.m. ET Dec. 20 (ABC/ESPN)
No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, noon ET Dec. 21 (TNT/Max)
No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, 4 p.m. ET Dec. 21 (TNT/Max)
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, 8 p.m. ET Dec. 21 (ABC/ESPN)
Quarterfinals
Fiesta Bowl: At State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., 7:30 p.m. ET Dec. 31 (ESPN)
Peach Bowl: At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 1 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)
Rose Bowl: At Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, Calif., 5 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)
Sugar Bowl: At Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, 8:45 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)
Semifinals
Orange Bowl: At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla., 7:30 p.m. ET Jan. 9 (ESPN)
National Championship
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. ET Jan. 20 (ESPN)
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Full College Football Playoff Bracket Expert Predictions.
