College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Take Shape
The College Football Playoff quarterfinals are closer to being finalized.
Automatic Qualifiers
The No. 1 Oregon Ducks, No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs, No. 3 Boise State Broncos, and No. 4 Arizona State Sun Devils automatically qualified for the quarterfinal round in the inaugural 12-team CFP. The top four seeds all received a first-round bye.
Opening Playoff Game
In the opening playoff game on Friday, the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish advanced with a 27-17 home win over the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers. Running back Jeremiyah Love set the CFP record for longest touchdown run with a 98-yard dash to the house early in the first quarter, and the Fighting Irish never looked back.
Quarterfinal Matchups
Five of the eight quarterfinal spots have been filled so far:
- No. 1 Oregon
- No. 2 Georgia
- No. 3 Boise State
- No. 4 Arizona State
- No. 7 Notre Dame
Schedule
The other three quarterfinal berths will be up for grabs on Saturday:
- No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State: 12 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
- No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas: 4 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
- No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State: 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN
Reseeding
Teams will not be reseeded after the opening round. The CFP will follow a bracket format throughout.
Quarterfinal Matchups
Following on-campus contests in Round 1, the CFP quarterfinals will see the introduction of bowl games. One matchup is set so far:
- Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
Remaining Matchups
And here’s a preview of the other three matchups:
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. winner of No. 8 Ohio State/No. 9 Tennessee
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. winner of No. 6 Penn State/No. 11 SMU
- Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. winner of No. 5 Texas/No. 12 Clemson
Schedule and Venues
The quarterfinal round will take place from New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31, to New Year’s Day on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
- Fiesta Bowl: Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET — State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
- Peach Bowl: Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. ET — Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
- Rose Bowl: Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET — Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
- Sugar Bowl: Jan. 1 at 8:45 p.m. ET — Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
Conclusion
The College Football Playoff quarterfinals are taking shape, with the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye and five teams already securing their spots in the next round. The remaining three quarterfinal berths will be decided on Saturday, with the CFP quarterfinals kicking off on New Year’s Eve and continuing on New Year’s Day.
FAQs
What are the automatic qualifiers for the CFP quarterfinals?
The No. 1 Oregon Ducks, No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs, No. 3 Boise State Broncos, and No. 4 Arizona State Sun Devils are the automatic qualifiers.
When do the CFP quarterfinals take place?
The CFP quarterfinals will take place from New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31, to New Year’s Day on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
How many quarterfinal berths have been filled so far?
Five quarterfinal berths have been filled so far.
Will teams be reseeded after the opening round?
No, teams will not be reseeded after the opening round. The CFP will follow a bracket format throughout.
What are the remaining matchups in the CFP quarterfinals?
Three matchups are still to be determined: No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, and No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State.
