CFP Byes Now Only for Top 4 Conference Champs

**CFP Board Tweaks 12-Team Playoff Bye Rule, Elevating Top Conference Champions for 2024 Season**

DALLAS – The College Football Playoff (CFP) Board of Managers has finalized a significant adjustment to the seeding criteria for its expanded 12-team playoff, effective for the upcoming 2024 season. The critical change clarifies that the coveted first-round byes will now be awarded exclusively to the *four highest-ranked conference champions*, a move that further emphasizes conference supremacy within the new format.

Under the initial framework for the 12-team playoff, which kicks off this fall, the top four *overall* seeds were set to receive automatic byes. While it was largely anticipated that these spots would be occupied by conference champions due to their high ranking, the amended rule removes any ambiguity and explicitly ties those valuable byes to the comparative ranking among the six automatic conference qualifiers.

The updated structure mandates that six conference champions will automatically qualify for the 12-team bracket. These will include the champions from the four highest-ranked conferences, plus the two highest-ranked champions from the remaining conferences. The adjustment by the Board of Managers means that from these six automatic qualifiers, the four highest-ranked conference champions will earn the first-round byes.

This distinction is crucial: a conference champion could, theoretically, be ranked lower overall in the final CFP rankings – say, seventh or eighth in the country. However, if they are still among the *top four ranked conference champions* in the committee’s final assessment, they would secure a bye. Conversely, a highly-ranked team that did not win its conference title, even if ranked higher overall than a bye-eligible conference champion, would not receive a first-round bye and would play in the opening round.

The remaining eight spots in the 12-team bracket will continue to be filled by the next eight highest-ranked teams, regardless of whether they won their respective conferences or not. These eight teams, alongside the two conference champions who did not earn byes, will compete in the first round of the playoff, with winners advancing to face the four bye teams in the quarterfinals.

“This refinement to the seeding process reinforces the value of winning your conference championship in the expanded playoff era,” said a source close to the CFP Board of Managers, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. “It ensures that the teams receiving a significant competitive advantage – the first-round bye – are unequivocally recognized as the best of the best among the league winners, according to the rigorous evaluation of the CFP Selection Committee.”

The 12-team playoff format, approved by the CFP Board in late 2022, represents a dramatic expansion from the previous four-team structure. The new format is designed to increase access to the postseason for more teams and conferences, provide more compelling games, and reduce the subjectivity often associated with the previous system. The new media rights deal, recently announced with ESPN through the 2031 season, underscores the significant financial and competitive stakes involved.

The CFP Selection Committee will release its final rankings and the official 12-team bracket on selection Sunday, traditionally the first Sunday of December, following the conclusion of regular season and conference championship games. The first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff is expected to be played on campus sites or at other designated venues in mid-December, leading up to the quarterfinals and semifinals hosted at New Year’s Six bowl games, culminating in the national championship game in mid-January.