The 2024 college football season marked the debut of the 12-team playoff format, which revolutionized the sport.
Top-four conference champions earned byes, while five through 12 seeds battled in the opening round. This format created thrilling matchups and gave more programs a chance at a national title.
The first round delivered excitement as Texas defeated Clemson 38-24, Penn State dominated SMU 38-10, Notre Dame topped Indiana 27-17, and Ohio State routed Tennessee 42-17.
These games showcased the depth and competitiveness of the expanded field.
“This playoff format feels like the purest test of a team’s mettle,” analyst Kirk Herbstreit said, according to ESPN.
With every matchup meaning more, the stakes rose to a level fans had never seen before.
In the quarterfinals, upsets shook the field. Ohio State stunned top ranked Oregon in the Rose Bowl by a score of 41-21, Notre Dame knocked off the Georgia Bulldogs 23-10 in the Sugar Bowl, Penn State took down the third ranked Boise State Broncos 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl, and Texas advanced with a win over the Arizona State Sun Devils 39-31 in the Peach Bowl.
Notre Dame edged Penn State 27-24 in the Orange Bowl to secure their spot in the national championship, while Ohio State defeated Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl.
“The 12-team playoff is everything fans hoped for- more games, more opportunities, and more upsets,” CFP executive director Bill Hancock said, according to ESPN.
The final, set for Jan. 20 in Atlanta, features two historical programs — seventh ranked Notre Dame and eighth ranked Ohio State — battling for glory.
The expanded playoff faces its share of critics, but its ability to produce drama and fresh contenders wins over many fans, but also causes controversy. As confetti prepares to fall in Atlanta, the new format already rewrites the history of college football.
