Full College Football Playoff Bracket Expert Predictions

Pat Forde and Bryan Fischer make their picks for all four rounds and 11 games in the inaugural 12-team playoff.

Oregon claimed the Big Ten championship and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. / Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff bracket is set. The undefeated Oregon Ducks claimed the top seed, while the SMU Mustangs edged the Alabama Crimson Tide to sneak into the field for the last spot. The Group of 5 automatic bid went to the Boise State Broncos, who also got a first-round bye as one of the highest-ranked conference champions. The Georgia Bulldogs (SEC) and Arizona State Sun Devils (Big 12) claimed the other two byes after winning their title games Saturday.

The monthlong march to the national championship game begins Dec. 20 with the No. 7 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish hosting the No. 10 seed Indiana Hoosiers. Three more first-round games will be played at campus sites on Dec. 21. The quarterfinals will be contested on Dec. 31 (Fiesta Bowl) and Jan. 1 (Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls). The semifinals held by the Orange and Cotton Bowls on Jan. 9 and 10, respectively, before Atlanta hosts the title game on Jan. 20.

Sports Illustrated college football writers Pat Forde and Bryan Fischer make their bracket predictions, plus the full CFP schedule with game times and TV information.

The stage is set. pic.twitter.com/n3HXN20Sl1

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 8, 2024

First Round

Pat Forde	Bryan Fischer
No. 5 Texas over No. 12 Clemson	No. 5 Texas over No. 12 Clemson
No. 9 Tennessee over No. 8 Ohio State	No. 8 Ohio State over No. 9 Tennessee
No. 6 Penn State over No. 11 SMU	No. 6 Penn State over No. 11 SMU
No. 7 Notre Dame over No. 10 Indiana	No. 10 Indiana over No. 7 Notre Dame

No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, 8 p.m. ET Dec. 20 (ABC/ESPN)

No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, noon ET Dec. 21 (TNT/Max)

No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, 4 p.m. ET Dec. 21 (TNT/Max)

No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, 8 p.m. ET Dec. 21 (ABC/ESPN)

Quarterfinals

	Pat Forde	Bryan Fischer
Peach Bowl	No. 4 Arizona State over No. 5 Texas	No. 5 Texas over No. 4 Arizona State
Rose Bowl	No. 1 Oregon over No. 9 Tennessee	No. 1 Oregon over No. 8 Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl	No. 6 Penn State over No. 3 Boise State	No. 6 Penn State over No. 3 Boise State
Sugar Bowl	No. 7 Notre Dame over No. 2 Georgia	No. 2 Georgia over No. 10 Indiana

Fiesta Bowl: At State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., 7:30 p.m. ET Dec. 31 (ESPN)

Peach Bowl: At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 1 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)

Rose Bowl: At Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, Calif., 5 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)

Sugar Bowl: At Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, 8:45 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)

Semifinals

	Pat Forde	Bryan Fischer
Orange Bowl	No. 1 Oregon No. 4 over Arizona State	No. 1 Oregon over No. 5 Texas
Cotton Bowl	No. 7 Notre Dame over No. 6 Penn State	No. 2 Georgia over No. 6 Penn State

Orange Bowl: At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla., 7:30 p.m. ET Jan. 9 (ESPN)

Cotton Bowl: At AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 7:30 p.m. ET Jan. 10 (ESPN)

National Championship

At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. ET Jan. 20 (ESPN)

Pat Forde	Bryan Fischer
No. 1 Oregon over No. 7 Notre Dame	No. 1 Oregon over No. 2 Georgia