The new 12-team College Football Playoff format has been officially confirmed.

According to the announcement made by the CFP’s board of managers on Tuesday, the new format will include the five highest-ranked conference champions and the seven highest-ranked teams outside that initial group. The decision to adopt this 5+7 format for the 12-team playoff was unanimously approved during a virtual meeting earlier in the day, with votes from the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s president, Rev. John Jenkins.

There had been anticipation for some time regarding the implementation of the 5+7 model for the 12-team playoff. However, the Pac-12’s decision on the format was delayed as Oregon State and Washington State resolved their future plans. These two schools, the last remaining in the Pac-12, were left behind after the other 10 schools announced their intentions to join different conferences, effective from 2024.

Before the Pac-12’s reorganization last summer, it was anticipated that the 12-team playoff would follow a 6+6 format, comprising the six highest-ranked conference champions and the six highest-ranked teams outside that category. With Oregon State and Washington State entering into a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West for 2024, neither school will be eligible for an automatic qualifying bid to the CFP in the next two seasons.

With the setup, it will likely ensure that the other four Power 5 conferences will get an automatic bid to the CFP with the best Group of 5 conference champion getting the other automatic bid.

“This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022,” CFP Board of Managers chair and Mississippi State president Mark Keenum said in a statement. “I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason.”

While there are still additional details to be finalized, the format has been completely established. The top four highest-ranked conference champions will be granted a bye in the first round. Initial-round matchups (No. 5 seed vs. No. 12 seed, No. 6 seed vs. No. 11 seed, No. 7 seed vs. No. 10 seed, No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed) will take place at the stadiums of the higher-seeded teams.

Quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled to be held at the New Year’s Six bowl games, while the championship game will be played at a neutral venue.

The 2024 season will be the first with the new 12-team format.

By Vincent Quezada

Photo courtesy of CFB Playoff Board

The Associated Press information contributed to this report.