The College Football Playoff has undergone a seismic shift, moving from a four‑team showdown to a twelve‑team tournament that will begin next season.
Under the new arrangement, the champions of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC are locked into automatic spots, regardless of how they finish within their own conferences.
Notre Dame, which does not belong to any conference, will receive an automatic at‑large invitation if it lands inside the top twelve of the final rankings released on Dec. 6, a provision that could push out traditional at‑large candidates such as USC.
Among the Group of Six, Boise State is projected to capture the Pac‑12 title and earn a first‑round matchup against Ohio State, securing an automatic berth as the highest‑ranked team outside the Power Five.
SMU is also expected to qualify via an at‑large slot, giving the ACC a second Group of Six representative in the field.
In the Big 12, BYU is forecast to win the conference and meet Oklahoma in the opening round, while the conference itself will be excluded from the at‑large pool.
LSU, predicted to capture the SEC championship, will square off against Oregon in the quarterfinals, and Miami could meet LSU in the same round.
Oregon, expected to win the Big Ten title, is slated to travel to the Rose Bowl to face LSU, while Georgia, another SEC powerhouse, is projected to meet Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl quarterfinals.
Notre Dame’s path is projected to take it to the Cotton Bowl, where it would defeat Indiana, then advance to the Orange Bowl semifinals to topple Georgia, setting up a national championship showdown against Texas.
Texas, meanwhile, is anticipated to win the Fiesta Bowl over Ohio State and earn a berth in the Sugar Bowl semifinals.
What This Means for the Future of College Football
The new structure promises more upsets, greater exposure for mid‑major programs, and a fresh narrative for fans who will now watch top teams collide in a broader array of locations, from Columbus to Austin and beyond.