Plot Synopsis

ESPN presents live coverage of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP), beginning Friday, December 20, 2024. This year's expansion is a historic shift for the College Football Playoff, growing from four teams to 12. Under the new format, the four highest-ranking conference champions are seeded 1-4 and receive first-round byes. The CFP first round consists of four games played at home campus venues, with teams seeded 5-8 hosting teams seeded 9-12. The quarterfinals are held at New Year's Eve and Day bowl games (Sugar, Rose, Fiesta, Peach Bowls). The semifinal games are held one week later at the Orange and Cotton Bowls.

The expanded playoff kicks off with the first-ever CFP First Round matchup, featuring #10 Indiana at #7 Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, on Friday, December 20, at 8pm ET/5pm PT. The CFP First Round continues on Saturday, December 21, with three additional matchups: #11 SMU at #6 Penn State at Noon ET/9am PT, #12 Clemson at #5 Texas at 4pm ET/1pm PT, and #9 Tennessee at #8 Ohio State at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Following the first-round action, ESPN will deliver comprehensive coverage of the four Playoff Quarterfinals, the two Playoff Semifinals, and the 2025 CFP National Championship, which will take place on Monday, January 20, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

College Football Playoff First Round Games Presented by Allstate on ESPN
- Fri 12/20/2024 @ 8:10pm ET: #10 Indiana at #7 Notre Dame
- Sat 12/21/2024 @ 12:10pm ET: #11 SMU at #6 Penn State
- Sat 12/21/2024 @ 4:10pm ET: #12 Clemson at #5 Texas
- Sat 12/21/2024 @ 8:10pm ET: #9 Tennessee at #8 Ohio State

College Football Playoff Quarterfinals on ESPN
- Tue 12/31/2024 @ 7:40pm ET at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: [Winner of SMU/Penn State] vs. Boise State
- Wed 1/1/2025 @ 1:10pm ET at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: [Winner of Clemson/Texas] vs. Arizona State
- Wed 1/1/2025 @ 5:10pm ET at the Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential: [Winner of Tennessee/Ohio State] vs. Oregon
- Wed 1/1/2025 @ 8:50pm ET at the Allstate Sugar Bowl: [Winner of Indiana/Notre Dame] vs. Georgia

College Football Playoff Semifinal on ESPN
- Thu 1/9/2025 @ 7:40pm ET at the Capital One Orange Bowl [Winner of Fiesta Bowl] vs. [Winner of Sugar Bowl]
- Fri 1/10/2025 @ 7:40pm ET at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic [Winner of Peach Bowl] vs. [Winner of Rose Bowl]

College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T
- Mon 1/20/2025 @ 7:45pm ET: [Winner of Orange Bowl] vs. [Winner of Cotton Bowl]