South Carolina Football: 2024 Playoff expansion and schedule made official
By Kevin Miller
Starting in the fall of 2024, college football will look very different. Oklahoma and Texas will be in the SEC, Southern Cal and UCLA will be part of the Big 10, and the College Football Playoff will expand from four teams to twelve teams. South Carolina football fans have 2024 circled on the calendar as the Gamecocks’ football program continues to climb up the ladder of the college football hierarchy.
The Playoff will be made up of the six highest-ranked conference champions in the country and the six highest-ranked programs left (those teams can be conference champions or non-conference champions).
Earlier this week, the College Football Playoff Committee announced the dates and bowl assignments for the 2024 season Playoff and 2025 season Playoff. Exact kickoff times will be announced at a later time.
2024 Season Playoff
First Round; On-Campus @ Higher Seed
Friday, December 20, 2024; One evening game
Saturday, December 21, 2024; One early afternoon game, one late afternoon game, one evening game
Quarterfinals; Rotating Bowl Tie-Ins
Tuesday, December 31, 2024; One evening game (VRBO Fiesta Bowl; State Farm Stadium; Glendale, Arizona)
Wednesday, January 1, 2025; One early afternoon game (Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl; Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Atlanta, Georgia), one late afternoon game (Rose Bowl; The Rose Bowl; Pasadena, California), one evening game (Allstate Sugar Bowl; The Super Dome; New Orleans, Louisiana)
Semifinals; Rotating Bowl Tie-Ins
Thursday, January 9, 2025; One evening game (Capital One Orange Bowl; Hard Rock Stadium; Miami Gardens, Florida)
Friday, January 10, 2025; One evening game (Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic; AT&T Stadium; Arlington, Texas)
College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Monday, January 20, 2025; One evening game (Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Atlanta, Georgia)
2025 Season Playoff
First Round; On-Campus @ Higher Seed
Friday, December 19, 2025; One evening game
Saturday, December 20, 2025; One early afternoon game, one late afternoon game, one evening game
Quarterfinals; Rotating Bowl Tie-Ins
Wednesday, December 31, 2025; One evening game (Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic; AT&T Stadium; Arlington, Texas)
Thursday, January 1, 2026; One early afternoon game (Capital One Orange Bowl; Hard Rock Stadium; Miami Gardens, Florida), one late afternoon game (Rose Bowl; The Rose Bowl; Pasadena, California), one evening game (Allstate Sugar Bowl; The Super Dome; New Orleans, Louisiana)
Semifinals; Rotating Bowl Tie-Ins
Thursday, January 8, 2026; One evening game (VRBO Fiesta Bowl; State Farm Stadium; Glendale, Arizona)
Friday, January 9, 2026; One evening game (Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl; Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Atlanta, Georgia)
College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Monday, January 19, 2026; One evening game (Hard Rock Stadium; Miami Gardens, Florida)