College Football Playoff
In short
The College Football Playoff is an annual single-elimination tournament used to decide the national champion of American college football. The current format features 12 teams and is scheduled to remain in place through the end of the 2026 season.
In plain words
It is a series of knockout games played by the best university football teams in the United States. The winner of the final game is crowned the national champion.
A simple example
A top-ranked team plays a semi-final match against another high-ranking team. The winner of that game moves on to the national championship game to play for the trophy.
Why it matters
It provides a clear way to crown one undisputed champion instead of relying on complicated voting systems. This format increases excitement and ensures the best teams face each other in high-stakes games.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse it with the Bowl Season, which consists of many individual non-playoff games played at the end of the year.