For the first time ever, the top level of college football will have a 12-team playoff.
And with a 9-0 record, Indiana is squarely in the mix to be selected for the initial bracket.
The College Football Playoff committee will release their first CFP rankings on Tuesday evening.
Here is what you need to know about how the 2024 CFP works, and a survey of 10 noteworthy national predictions ahead of the first rankings reveal.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2024 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
- The CFP rankings are independently determined by a committee and not in any way based the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, etc.
- The top four seeds go to the highest-ranked conference champions, with a fifth conference champion making the bracket too.
- The top four seeds get a bye.
- The fifth conference champion will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5. Because of this, the seeding, 1 through 12, could look different than the final rankings.
- First round games will be played on campus, and hosted by the team with the better seed (i.e. No. 5 hosts No. 12, and so on).
- The selection committee will assign the four highest-ranked conference champions to Playoff Quarterfinals hosted by bowls. This will be done in consideration of historic bowl relationships, then in consideration of rankings. For example, if the Sugar Bowl hosts a Playoff Quarterfinal and the SEC champion is ranked No. 1 and the Big 12 champion is ranked No. 3, the SEC champion would be assigned to the Sugar Bowl and the Big 12 champion would be assigned elsewhere.
- With the four highest-ranked conference champions assigned to bowls, their four Playoff Quarterfinal opponents will be dictated by the bracket (i.e., No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 winner, No. 4 vs. No. 5/12 winner, No. 2 vs. 7/10 winner; No. 3 vs. 6/11 winner.)
- The College Football Playoff bracket will follow the selection committee’s rankings, with no modifications made to avoid rematches between teams that may have played during the regular season or are from the same conference.
- The bracket will remain in effect throughout the playoff (i.e., no re-seeding).
- The highest seed will receive preferential placement for the Playoff Semifinal bowl assignment.
- The final CFP rankings will be released on Dec. 8, following the conference championship games.
The first College Football Playoffs rankings reveal show will air live on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday.
CFP PREDICTIONS FOR INDIANA AHEAD OF FIRST RANKINGS REVEAL
Here are 10 projections for IU football by well known national outlets ahead of the first rankings and bracket reveal:
– ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura projects Indiana to be the No. 5 seed, hosting No. 12 Alabama in the first round.
– ESPN’s Mark Schlabach projects Indiana to be the No. 7 seed, hosting No. 10 Tennessee in the first round.
– ESPN’s Bill Connelly projects Indiana to be the No. 5 seed, hosting No. 12 Boise State in the first round.
– ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg projects Indiana to be the No. 7 seed, hosting No. 10 Notre Dame in the first round.
– The Athletic projects Indiana to be the No. 8 seed, matched up at home against No. 9 Texas in the first round.
– USA Today Network projects Indiana to be the No. 10 seed, traveling to No. 7 Tennessee in the first round.
– Action Network’s Brett McMurphy projects Indiana to be the No. 8 seed, hosting No. 9 Texas A&M in the first round.
– CBS Sports projects Indiana will be the No. 9 seed, traveling to No. 8 Penn State in the first round.
– On3’s Andy Staples projects Indiana will be the No. 7 seed, hosting No. 10 Tennessee in the first round.
– SI’s Pat Forde projects Indiana will be the No. 5 seed, hosting No. 12 Boise State in the first round.
Summary of projections:
- High – No. 5
- Low – No. 10
- Average – No. 7
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Find us on Facebook and Instagram
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
