Here’s how the bracket will be set and site locations determined using the committee’s Nov. 8 rankings and a 2024-25 calendar. Note: The Orange and Cotton Bowls were previously scheduled to host the 2024-25 semifinals, and Atlanta was selected as the national championship game. Top four seeds (first round bye): Under the CFP Board’s approved model, the top four seeds will be reserved for the four highest-ranked conference champions. For our purposes, we designate the top team in each conference as the champion. That means No. 1 Georgia (SEC), No. 2 Ohio State (Big Ten), No. 4 TCU (Big 12) and No. 6 Oregon (Pac-12) will get byes in the quarterfinals. No. 5-12 seeds: 5. Michigan (in general)6. Tennessee (overall) 7. LSU (overall)8. USC (overall)9. Alabama (generally speaking)10. Clemson (ACC champion)11. Ole Miss (mostly)12. Tulane (AAC Champion) Under the same model, the six highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed a berth along with the six highest-ranked teams. If the season ended today, the fifth and sixth highest ranked conference champions would be No. 10 Clemson (ACC) and No. 17 Tulane (AAC). Joining them in the field will be the six highest-ranked teams remaining: No. 3 Michigan, No. 5 Tennessee, No. 7 LSU, No. 8 USC, No. 9 Alabama and No. 11 All-Miss.

The CAP program

All weather Eastern.

First round

Fri. 13 December

No. 10 Clemson at No. 7 LSU, 7:30 p.m

Sat. December 14

No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Michigan, noon No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 6 Tennessee, 4 p.m No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 USC, 8 p.m

The four first-round games will be played on the campuses of the Nos. 5-8 seeds on the third weekend in December. Which games will be placed in which slots will likely be determined by ESPN, with USC-Alabama being the obvious Saturday pick. And you know LSU would love to host Clemson in a night game on Friday.

Quarterfinals

Tues. 31 December

Peach Bowl: No. 4 Oregon vs. Michigan-Tulane winner, 7:30 p.m.

Wive. 1st of January

Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 TCU vs. Tennessee-Ole Miss winner, 1 p.m. Rose Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. LSU-Clemson winner, 5 p.m. Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. USC-Alabama winner, 8:45 p.m.

It is expected that the current New Year’s Six Bowls will host the quarter-finals and semi-finals, with the aim of most quarter-finals being played on New Year’s Day. And the CFP board said in its announcement that the top four seeds will be assigned “taking into account current contract bowl relationships.” Using those parameters, No. 1 Georgia would go to the SEC’s contract bowl, the Sugar Bowl, and No. 2 Ohio State to the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten champion. The Peach and Fiesta bowls have no conference partners, but No. 3 seed TCU would likely be favored over No. 4 Oregon. Putting the Frogs in the Peach Bowl would put them at a disadvantage against a lower-seeded SEC foe, so TCU gets the Fiesta and Oregon the Peach.

Semifinals

Collect. Jan. 9

Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State/No. 7 LSU/No. 10 Clemson vs. No. 3 TCU/No. 6 Tennessee/No. 11 Ole Miss, 7:30 p.m

Free. January 10

Orange Bowl: No. 1 Georgia/No. 8 USC/No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 4 Oregon/No. 5 Michigan/No. 12 Tulane, 7:30 p.m

The commissioners haven’t officially set the dates for the semifinals, but they should be at least a week later than the quarterfinals, and the CFP would avoid scheduling them opposite the NFL’s Wild Card weekend (Jan. 11-13). This probably means placing one on Thursday night and the other on Friday night. The CFP Board’s announcement stated that “higher seeds will receive preferential treatment in the Playoff semifinals.” That would depend on which teams win their quarterfinals, but if No. 1 Georgia advances, Miami is closer than Arlington. My. Jan. 20

National Championship Game at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m

The title game is expected to remain on Monday night as the NFL’s Divisional Round chokes on potential weekend dates. The CFP had already selected Atlanta as its site for the 2025 national championship game and is expected to remain so, even though the game will now be played two weeks later than originally scheduled. And here’s how we predict the tournament will play out in the quarterfinals and beyond:

No. 9 Alabama beats No. 8 USC No. 5 Michigan beats No. 12 Tulane No. 6 Tennessee beats No. 11 Ole Miss No. 7 LSU beats No. 10 Clemson No. 1 Georgia beats No. 9 Alabama No. 5 Michigan beats No. 4 Oregon No. 6 Tennessee beats No. 3 TCU No. 2 Ohio State beats No. 7 LSU No. 1 Georgia beats No. 5 Michigan No. 6 Tennessee beats No. 2 Ohio State No. 1 Georgia beats No. 6 Tennessee

See last week’s field here. (Top photo: Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)