The 2023-2024 college football season marks the final season featuring a four-team playoff. As of 2024-2025, the playoff bracket will expand to eight teams, featuring an opening round and first-round byes for the four highest-ranked teams.
For now, the four-team playoff remains in play and will kick off on January 1st. The National Championship game will then take place on January 8th.
When does the NCAA playoff start?
- Rose Bowl (semifinal): January 1st
- Sugar Bowl (semifinal): January 1st
- National Championship: January 8th
Who are the defending National Champions?
The Georgia Bulldogs are the current defending champions, having won the last two National Championships in a row. Kirby Smart has built a powerhouse program with the ‘Dawgs, who are now looking to make history as the first team to win three titles in a row in the modern era of college football.
The last team to do so was Minnesota, back in 1936, before the current format came into play.
The Bulldogs will now retool having sent another batch of elite-level talent to the NFL, and look to defend their title with quarterback Carson Beck taking over. The defense is expected to be as good as it’s ever been, led by a powerful defensive line that Georgia has become well-known for in recent years.
When is the NCAA National Championship game?
The 2023-2024 College Football National Championship will take place on January 8th at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The stadium has a capacity of over 72,000 fans, which can be expanded to 80,000 depending on the event. Last year’s final between Georgia and TCU drew a crowd of 72,628 fans, held at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
What channel are the College Football Playoffs on?
The College Football playoffs in 2024 will be broadcast on ESPN. Here is the schedule for the three games:
Semifinals
Matchup
Date Time (EST) Network
Rose Bowl Semifinal
January 1st 5:00 PM ESPN
Sugar Bowl Semifinal
January 1st 8:45 PM ESPN
National Championship
Matchup
Date Time (EST) Network
National Championship
January 8th 7:30 PM ESPN
Best National Championship 2024 odds (subject to change)
Georgia Bulldogs +200
Alabama Crimson Tide +550
Ohio State Buckeyes +650
Michigan Wolverines +900
LSU Tigers +1200
USC Trojans +1400
Clemson Tigers +1600
Florida State Seminoles +1800
Penn State Nittany Lions +2200
Texas Longhorns +2200
National Championship Favorites
The Georgia Bulldogs are a strong favorite for yet another National Championship this year, with one of the most talented rosters in the country. It is expected that they will once again boast the best defense in football, and are a heavy favorite to run through the SEC and into the college football playoff.
Nick Saban will be looking to fire Alabama back into the playoff having missed out in 2022, but will face a close contest with the LSU Tigers who are also expected to be a challenger in the SEC West this season.
Michigan and Ohio State will go toe to toe in the Big House during the season, and that game will likely have major playoff implications for two teams vying for a spot in the final four in January 2024.
The Wolverines have a great roster and retained plenty of talent from last year. Their running back tandem of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will likely be one of the best in the country, and quarterback J.J. McCarthy gives them a great chance to contend in the 2023 season.
With slightly longer odds, check out the Clemson Tigers, who will hand the keys to highly anticipated quarterback Cade Klubnik for the first time in his young career. They’re expected to be challenged by a well-put-together Florida State roster, which could make the ACC division a very interesting one this coming year.