Note: The following appears in the Stanford football gameday program.
College football is in a new era in 2024, and the expansion of the College Football Playoff to a 12-team, single-elimination tournament is the biggest development. We thought it would be appropriate to give our fans a rundown on how the playoff works, who picks the teams and Clemson’s history in the event.
HOW THE CFP WORKS• The 12 participating teams are the four power-conference champions ranked by the CFP selection committee, plus the next eight highest-ranked teams, with the highest-ranked, non-power-conference team guaranteed a bid.• The ranking of the teams continues to be voted on by a 13-member selection committee.• The four highest-ranked conference champions are seeded 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. The highest-ranked, non-power-conference champion is seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four are seeded beginning at No. 5. Because of this, the seedings (1-12) could differ from the final ranking.• An example of this would have taken place in 2022, when Clemson won the ACC title, but was the No. 7 team in the final CFP ranking after the conference championship games. Clemson would have been the No. 3 seed in CFP that season under the rules this year.• The eight teams seeded 5-12 play in a first-round game, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7, No. 9 at No. 8.). There is one first-round game on Dec. 20 and three first-round games on Dec. 21.• The selection committee assigns the four highest-ranked conference champions to quarterfinals hosted by bowls. This is done in consideration of historic bowl relationships, then in consideration of rankings. For example, if the Sugar Bowl hosts a quarterfinal, the SEC champion is ranked No. 1 and the Big 12 Conference champion is ranked No. 3, the SEC champion would be assigned to the Sugar Bowl and the Big 12 Conference champion would be assigned elsewhere.• With the four highest-ranked league champions assigned to bowls, their four quarterfinal foes are dictated by the bracket (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 CFP bracket follows the selection committee’s rankings, with no modifications made to avoid rematches between teams that played during the regular season or are from the same conference. In other words, it is possible for Clemson to play an ACC team three times in one year, once in the regular season, once in the ACC Championship Game and once in the CFP.• The bracket remains in effect throughout the playoff (no reseeding).• The highest seed receives preferential placement for its semifinal bowl.• All 11 CFP games are under the CFP umbrella, with the administrative policies determined by the CFP.• There is no limit on the number of teams that can be selected from one conference.
RANKINGS SCHEDULEThe CFP committee meets six times during the fall to release its top 25 rankings. The committee meets each Monday prior to the release dates, which are each Tuesday beginning on Nov. 5. The top 25 is released on the CFP ranking programs on ESPN. The following is the top-25 release schedule for 2024.
Tuesday, Nov. 5 • 7 p.m.Tuesday, Nov. 12 • 9 p.m.Tuesday, Nov. 19 • 7 p.m.Tuesday, Nov. 26 • 8 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 3 • 7 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 8 • Noon
CFP SCHEDULEFirst-Round Games (Campus Sites)• Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 (one game)• Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 (three games)
Quarterfinals• Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, Fiesta Bowl• Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl
Semifinals• Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, Orange Bowl• Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, Cotton Bowl
CFP National Championship Game• Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, Atlanta, Ga.
CLEMSON & THE CFPClemson has been prominent in the 10-year history of the CFP. The following are some facts about the Tigers’ contribution to the heritage of the CFP.
• Clemson has participated in the CFP six times, second to Alabama’s eight appearances.• Clemson holds the record for consecutive years making the CFP, six straight seasons from 2015-20.• Clemson has twice won the CFP National Championship Game, tied for second with Georgia. Alabama has won it three times. Clemson defeated Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game at the end of the 2016 and 2018 seasons. The two schools met in the playoff four straight years. They split the four games, but the Tigers were 2-1 against the Crimson Tide in CFP National Championship Games.• Clemson has appeared in the CFP National Championship Game four times, second to Alabama’s six. Georgia is third with three.• Clemson has six CFP victories, second to Alabama’s nine.• With its No. 22 final CFP ranking last season, Clemson became one of just three programs to finish in the top 25 of the CPF rankings all 10 years of the four-team playoff. Alabama and Ohio State are the other two.• Clemson was in the top five of the CFP rankings for 35 consecutive rankings between 2015-20. Clemson was ranked in the top 10 of the CFP rankings in all six rankings of 2022 as well.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES• Deshaun Watson had 145 yards on 24 carries against Oklahoma in the 2015 semifinal, the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a CFP game.• Watson had 36 completions against Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game at the end of the 2015 season, the most completions in a CFP game.• Watson is the only player to total 400+ passing yards in two CFP National Championship Games.• Watson owns the CFP record for passing attempts without an interception, 56 against Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game at the end of the 2015 season.• Defensive end Kevin Dodd holds the record for sacks (3) and tackles for loss (5) in a CFP National Championship Game in the contest at the end of the 2015 season.• Hunter Renfrow is one of just two players with 10+ receptions in a CFP National Championship Game, as he totaled 10 receptions for 92 yards against the Crimson Tide in the championship game at the end of the 2016 season.• Renfrow had 37 receptions for 392 yards and five touchdowns in his career in seven CFP games, believed to be the record for career receptions in CFP games.
LONG PLAYS• B.T Potter holds the record for the longest field goal in a CFP National Championship Game, 52 yards against LSU in the title game at the end of the 2019 season.• Will Spiers holds the record for the longest punt in a CFP National Championship Game, 58 yards versus LSU in the title game at the end of the 2019 season.• Van Smith holds the CFP record for the longest interception return, 86 yards against Ohio State in the semifinal during the 2016 season.
