How the 12-team College Football Playoff will work: Teams, schedule, bids

The College Football Playoff will have a 12-team playoff bracket for the 2026-27 season, the third year of that size after expanding from the four-team format. Here's what you need to know about the change:

How CFP teams are selected under new format

The 12-team College Football Playoff field each of the conference champions from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC —also known as the Power 4 — will receive an automatic bid regardless of their final ranking.

The highest-ranked team from one of the Group of 6 conferences (American, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 OR Sun Belt) — regardless of whether its a conference champion or not — will also get an automatic bid.

Previously in the first two years of the 12-team format (2024/25), the five highest-ranked conference champions — regardless of conference — received automatic bids. 

Notre Dame can also receive an automatic bid in 2026 if it ranks among the top-12 teams.

The highest-ranked teams remaining will round out the 12-team format. 

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Where CFP games will be played

As of 2025, the teams ranked Nos. 1-4 will also be seeded Nos. 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. Previously, in the first edition of the 12-team CFP during the 2024 season, the four highest-ranked conference champions received a first-round bye, regardless of ranking.

Seeds 5-12 will play each other in the first round. The higher-seeded teams will play host in their first round games. Here's a breakdown of the first round matchups:

• No. 5 vs. No. 12
• No. 6 vs. No. 11
• No. 7 vs. No. 10
• No. 8 vs. No. 9

New Year's Six bowl games will be introduced in the quarterfinal round. The semifinals will be played in bowls on a rotating basis while the national championship host site is determined through bids by prospective host sites.

The CFP for the 2026 season: