5 darkhorse contenders for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff
ATLANTA (BVM) – College football will have a new look in 2024 and one of the biggest changes is the introduction of a 12-team format for the College Football Playoff.
The playoff expansion will result in first-round games being played Dec. 20-21 before the quarterfinals are held during several of college football’s top bowl games on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The College Football Playoff semifinals will occur at the Orange Bowl and the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 9 and 10, with the national championship game set to be held in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
While the usual heavyweights will likely be in the hunt for a national championship by the time the postseason rolls around, the 12-team playoff format will allow a wider range of programs to compete for a title. From Group of 5 squads to teams perhaps overlooked in high-major conferences, several sneaky picks could surprise in 2024 and reach the 12-team bracket by December.
Here’s a look at five darkhorse contenders for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff.
