How the college football playoff works

The College Football Playoff is entering a new era — this season will be a 12-team format for the first time since the CFP was introduced in 2014.

Why it matters: More teams will have a shot at competing for a national championship given that the field is expanded beyond the prior four-team setup.

Driving the news: The CFP bracket was announced Sunday, with top-four seeds Oregon, Georgia, Arizona State and Boise State earning first-round byes.

• The remaining field:
• Clemson, Texas, SMU, Penn State, Indiana, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Ohio State.

How it works: Teams No. 5-12 will play each other in a bracket-style Round 1 on Dec. 20-21, with the higher-ranked school hosting the game.

• The winners will play the four conference champions in the quarterfinals in the New Year's Six bowl games.
• The Fiesta Bowl is Dec. 31. The Peach, Rose and Sugar bowls will be staggered throughout the day on Jan. 1.