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On Sunday, college football fans got their first look at the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, marking a significant shift in the sport's postseason format.
Following a thrilling series of conference championship games, the College Football Playoff field is now bigger and more exciting than ever, promising fresh opportunities for teams across the nation.
Surprises in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff Bracket
The field, which expands from the previous four-team format, features some familiar powerhouses and surprising underdogs.
The top four seeds-Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State-earned first-round byes after impressive performances throughout the season.
Oregon, in their inaugural Big Ten Championship, remained undefeated and secured the No. 1 spot.
Georgia, despite suffering two regular-season losses, took down Texas in the SEC Championship to nab the No. 2 seed.
Boise State and Arizona State made their own statements in their respective conference championships, earning their place as No. 3 and No. 4 seeds.
However, the drama didn't stop there.
The Clemson Tigers, who secured the ACC Championship with a dramatic win over SMU, were given the No. 12 seed, setting up a fascinating matchup with fifth-seeded Texas.
Fans can expect intense matchups from the first round, which will feature home-field advantage for the higher seeds.
Clemson will take on Texas, Penn State will meet SMU, and Notre Dame will face Indiana in a clash that promises high stakes.
Ohio State and Tennessee will also face off, with the winners of each game moving on to play some of the nation's best teams.
The expanded format has opened the door for both seasoned powers and rising programs, sparking debates over which underdog might make a Cinderella run or if a powerhouse like Oregon can finally capture the elusive national title.
The question on everyone's mind: which team will emerge from this exciting bracket to claim the crown?
The first-round matchups will kick off in December, with the quarterfinals and semifinals taking place at neutral sites as part of the traditional bowl game setting.
2024 CFP schedule
* No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Indiana (Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET)
* No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 SMU (Dec. 21, Noon ET)
* No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson (Dec. 21, 4 p.m. ET)
* No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee (Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET)
* No 3 Boise State vs. Penn State/SMU (Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET)
* No. 4 Arizona State vs. Texas/Clemson (Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)
* No. 1 Oregon vs. Ohio State/Tennessee (Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET)
* No. 2 Georgia vs. Notre Dame/Indiana (Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET)
As the college football world adapts to this new era, fans are eagerly anticipating what could be the most unpredictable postseason in years.