Changes to the 2025 College Football Playoff are underway with a new seeding model set to debut this fall. First-round byes remain, but they will now go to the selection committee’s top-four seeds independent of conference championships.

“After evaluating the first year of the 12-team Playoff, the CFP Management Committee felt it was in the best interest of the game to make this adjustment,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said in a released statement. “This change will continue to allow guaranteed access to the Playoff by rewarding teams for winning their conference championship, but it will also allow us to construct a postseason bracket that recognizes the best performance on the field during the entire regular season.”

“Today’s decision was done in the best interest of the sport,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips told CBS Sports in a written statement. “It may not always benefit the ACC but it was the right decision and that’s a responsibility I take very seriously.”

Effectively, we will obtain a true power rating of the nation’s best teams for the postseason while retaining the auto-bid designations for winners within the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and Group of Five ranks.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark echoed Phillips’s sentiments, stating that he hopes what is best for the sport “continues to be the priority in any discussions moving forward.”

Projecting how next season’s playoff bracket may unfold seven months in advance demands consideration of roster talent, expectations, game-by-game predictions, and where each of these programs will finish by the end of the year.

College Football Playoff

Quarterfinals

Date	Game / Location	Projection
Jan. 1	Rose BowlPasadena, Calif.	(1) Ohio State vs. (8/9) Winner
Jan. 1	Sugar BowlNew Orleans	(2) Texas vs. (7/10) Winner
Jan. 1	Orange BowlMiami	(3) Penn State vs. (6/11) Winner
Dec. 31	Cotton BowlArlington, Tx.	(4) Clemson vs. (5/12) Winner

First Round

Date	Location	Projection	Winner faces
Dec. 19 or 20	Notre Dame StadiumSouth Bend, Ind.	(5) Notre Dame vs. (12) Navy	(4) Iowa State
Dec. 19 or 20	Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, La.	(8) LSU vs. (9) Miami	(1) Ohio State
Dec. 19 or 20	Bryant-Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, Ala.	(6) Alabama vs. (11) Iowa State	(3) Clemson
Dec. 19 or 20	Autzen StadiumEugene, Ore.	(7) Oregon vs. (10) Georgia	(2) Texas

Breaking Down Projected CFP Field with Straight Seeding

• No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten champion): The defending national champions have a new look but are expected to perform well after their opener against Texas.
• No. 2 Texas (SEC champion): Seeking redemption after falling in the playoffs last season, led by star player Arch Manning.
• No. 3 Penn State: Expected to perform strongly, with internal discussions about playoff implications.
• No. 4 Clemson (ACC champion): With expectations high, the Tigers are looking for a strong season against their league opponents.
• No. 5 Notre Dame: The team hopes to capitalize on last year’s near championship performance with leaders like Jeremiya Love.
• No. 6 Alabama: Under pressure to excel after a mediocre previous season, they aim to reclaim their position as national contenders.
• No. 7 Oregon: With high expectations, the team seeks to validate their position in the rankings.
• No. 8 LSU: Aiming for a strong performance to assert themselves in the conference.
• No. 9 Miami: With tough scheduling, they are under scrutiny to pull off strong performances to meet playoff criteria.
• No. 10 Georgia: Despite recent losses, they remain a force with experienced leadership.
• No. 11 Iowa State (Big 12 champion): Expected to perform well despite previous challenges.
• No. 12 Navy (AAC champion): A dark horse aiming for upset potential in a challenging season.