CFP Playoff Bracket: Schedule, Matchups & TV Networks
The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff bracket has reached the semifinals. Now, four teams remain to battle it out for the chance to be crowned the National Champion on Monday, Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
For the first time in the history of college football, four teams hosted home games on their own campuses that would determine which teams moved on to play in official bowl games. In each first-round game, the home team came out victorious.
Four teams also earned first-round byes by winning their respective conferences. Each of those teams lost in the quarterfinals.
Read below for the updated College Football Playoff schedule, including TV networks and broadcasting assignments.
(via NCAA)
2024 CFP Schedule & TV network broadcast assignments
First Round Results (Dec. 20-21)
- Friday, Dec. 20: Notre Dame 27, Indiana 17
- Saturday, Dec. 21: Penn State 38, SMU 10
- Saturday, Dec. 21: Texas 38, Clemson 24
- Saturday, Dec. 21: Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17
Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 2)
- Fiesta Bowl: Penn State 31, Boise State 14
- Peach Bowl: Texas 39, Arizona State 31 / 2OT
- Rose Bowl: Ohio State 41, Oregon 21
- Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10
Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
- Orange Bowl: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 | ESPN | Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath
- Cotton Bowl: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State | 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 | ESPN | Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit
CFP National Championship
- 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20 | ESPN
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
- Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, Molly McGrath
How much did ESPN pay to broadcast the CFP playoffs?
In March, ESPN/Disney agreed to a new six-year, $7.8 BILLION contract with the NCAA for broadcast rights to carry the playoff through the 2031-32 season.
The deal calls for ESPN to pay $1.3 billion annually starting in 2026-27.
Why is TNT broadcasting 2024 CFP games?
According to reports, the deal from TNT was just too good to pass up for ESPN.
"We took a step back and asked ourselves, 'Was this better or worse for college football?'" ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro told Sports Business Journal. "And we ultimately decided that [WBD] putting their networks behind these games would be a net positive."
The deal gave ESPN "financial flexibility," according to Pitaro.
TNT is reportedly paying nine figures each year it broadcasts early-round games, which will be used by ESPN to help off-set its commitment.
The current deal calls for TNT to broadcast first round games in 2024 and 2025.
Starting in 2026, TNT will broadcast two quarterfinal games along with first-round games through the 2028 season.