how many teams will make the postseason college football playoffs in the 2025 season?

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30-11-2024

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The College Football Playoff (CFP) is set to expand in 2024, shaking up the landscape of college football. But how will this affect the 2025 season? Let's delve into the details of the expanded playoff system and predict how many teams will contend for the national championship.

The Expanding College Football Playoff

For years, the CFP was a four-team affair. This limited the number of deserving teams that could compete for the ultimate prize. The expansion to a 12-team playoff, starting in 2024, marks a significant change. This expansion dramatically increases the number of teams with a shot at the national championship.

The 12-Team Playoff Format

The 12-team playoff format will feature:

• Six highest-ranked conference champions: Automatic bids for the champions of the six highest-ranked conferences (determined by the CFP selection committee).
• Six at-large bids: The selection committee will choose the six best teams that did not win their conference. This allows for teams with strong records and impressive wins to still compete.

Predicting the 2025 College Football Playoff Field

Predicting the exact teams that will make the 2025 CFP is, of course, impossible this far out. However, we can analyze the new format and make some educated guesses.

The Impact of Expansion

The expansion to 12 teams will undeniably make the postseason more inclusive. Teams that might have previously been left out due to a single loss or a tough conference will now have a better chance. This increases the excitement and competitiveness of the entire regular season. Upsets will matter even more, as a team with an unexpected loss could still earn an at-large bid.

Conference Dominance and At-Large Bids

The six automatic bids will likely go to the usual suspects: teams from the SEC, Big Ten, and Pac-12 conferences, which historically dominate the sport. However, the at-large bids will be intensely competitive. Groups of five conferences (AAC, Mountain West, MAC, Sun Belt, and Conference USA) will have a chance to sneak in if they produce outstanding teams.

The Bottom Line: 12 Teams

The simple answer is twelve teams will make the College Football Playoffs in 2025. The expansion to a 12-team field ensures more teams get a shot at the national championship, making the season more exciting and unpredictable. The increased number of teams participating will certainly boost the overall excitement around the sport.

Looking Ahead: Beyond 2025

While the 12-team format is a significant change, the long-term future of the CFP remains to be seen. Further expansions are always possible as the landscape of college football continues to evolve. The 2025 season promises to be a pivotal one as the expanded format fully takes effect. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates as the season draws near.