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The 2024/25 College Football Playoff (CFP) introduces not only a 12-team playoff format but also a revamped payout structure that significantly increases financial rewards for participating teams and their conferences.
The expanded format raises the stakes on the field and in the bank s of the schools and their respective conferences.
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How much does each team make per round?
The College Football Playoff's prize distribution for the 2024/25 season ensures that teams are rewarded for advancing further into the competition. Every team that qualifies for the playoff receives a base payout of $4 million.
This payout applies to each of the 12 teams that make the field, regardless of how far they progress.
For many programs, just making the playoff guarantees a substantial financial boost for their athletic department and conference.
Teams that advance past the first round receive an additional $4 million for reaching the quarterfinals. If a team moves forward to the semifinals, they earn an extra $6 million. The two teams that reach the National Championship Game collect an additional $6 million each.
This layered structure incentivizes performance, as teams that make deeper runs in the playoffs generate significantly more revenue for themselves and their conferences.
In addition to these performance-based payouts, each team receives $3 million per round to help cover travel and preparation expenses.
This allocation ensures teams can afford the travel and logistics required to compete at neutral-site venues like the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Peach Bowl, which serve as host sites for the playoff rounds.
While individual teams earn payouts for their performance, the money is not kept solely by the schools. Instead, the payouts are distributed to their respective conferences, which then decide how to allocate the funds among member institutions.
This approach ensures that the success of one team can benefit an entire conference, allowing for improvements in facilities, player resources, and coaching staff salaries.
For example, the Big Ten is projected to earn approximately $20 million from the 2024/25 College Football Playoff, thanks to having four teams in the field.
The SEC follows closely behind, expected to collect around $16 million due to its three playoff teams.
Smaller conferences, such as the American Athletic Conference (AAC) or the Mountain West, also stand to benefit financially if their representatives advance through the tournament.