Report: CFP switching to a straight-seeding model for 2025

Field Level MediaField Level Media|published: Thu 22nd May, 14:32 2025
Syndication: The Columbus DispatchOhio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) celebrates with the trophy following the 34-23 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to win the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 22, 2025.

College Football Playoff executives unanimously agreed Thursday to adopt a straight-seeding model for the 2025 season, Yahoo Sports reported.

Last season's controversial 12-team format gave the top four seeds -- and the accompanying first-round byes -- to the four highest-ranked conference champions.

Those four schools in 2024 were Big Ten champion and No. 1 Oregon and Southeastern Conference champion and No. 2 Georgia along with No. 9 Boise State (Mountain West) and No. 12 Arizona State (Big 12).


Under the straight-seeding model, the No. 3 and 4 seeds would have gone to Texas (SEC) and Penn State (Big Ten), respectively.

In 2025, the teams will be seeded 1-12 based on their final CFP ranking.

As it turned out, all four of the teams that received byes last season lost their first playoff games.

No. 8 seed Ohio State won the national championship with a 34-23 win against No. 7 seed Notre Dame.


--Field Level Media

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