The final 12-team College Football Playoff bracket for the 2024 season has officially been revealed, and with it comes plenty of excitement, drama, and of course, controversy.
Biggest Surprise: SMU's No. 11 Seed
Arguably the most controversial decision in the unveiling is the inclusion of SMU as the No. 11 seed. Despite their impressive performance throughout the season, many fans and analysts believed that Alabama should have been awarded that spot due to their strong SEC schedule and high-profile victories. Instead, SMU, a team that made waves but lacked the national recognition of some of the bigger programs, was selected.
It’s no secret that the College Football Playoff committee has often had to choose between teams with similar records but vastly different strength of schedule. SMU’s inclusion over Alabama has sparked debates on social media and sports talk shows, with Alabama fans and experts questioning the reasoning behind such a decision.
Breakdown of the College Football Playoff Bracket
Here’s a look at the final 12-team bracket for the 2024 College Football Playoff:
First Round Matchups (On Campus)
- No. 12 Clemson vs. No. 5 Texas
- No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 8 Ohio State
- No. 11 SMU vs. No. 6 Penn State
- No. 10 Indiana vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
Quarterfinals (Neutral Sites)
- Winner of Clemson/Texas vs. Arizona State (No. 4 seed)
- Winner of Tennessee/Ohio State vs. Oregon (No. 1 seed)
- Winner of SMU/Penn State vs. Boise State (No. 3 seed)
- Winner of Indiana/Notre Dame vs. Georgia (No. 2 seed)
Semifinals
The winners of the quarterfinals will then meet in the semifinals, which will take place at iconic bowls including the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
National Championship
The two semifinal winners will face off for the College Football Playoff National Championship in a thrilling matchup that will crown the 2024 College Football National Champion.
Bottom Line
As the bracket is set, all eyes will now turn to the games, and while the seedings may have sparked controversy, there's no question that the matchups are primed for some unforgettable football. Will SMU prove the doubters wrong, or will the traditional powerhouses rise to the occasion? Time will tell, but one thing is for sure: we’re in for a thrilling playoff.
