College Football Playoff live rankings: Updated 12-team bracket revealed in third CFP poll of 2024

College football is heading into the home stretch of the season. There remain only a handful of games for each program, and the race for the College Football Playoff is on. 

With the expansion from the four-team format to 12 starting in 2024, the end of the season is all the more exciting. Teams that may have found themselves well outside the hunt for a national championship in years prior find themselves in the thick of a close competition to grab one of the 12 spots in the playoff. 

The four-team system had been in place since 2012, replacing the outdated BCS format. It expanded the championship series from two teams to four teams, and fans began questioning when it would expand again. The answer ended up being 2024.

The first College Football Playoff rankings release began in early November. In total, there will be five reveals before the final 12-team playoff is selected in January. Tuesday, Nov. 19 marks the third release of those rankings.

Follow below as The Sporting News is tracking the latest bracket reveal of the 12-team CFP era. 

STREAM: Watch the first CFP rankings show live with Fubo (free trial)

College Football Playoff rankings 2024

Who are the top 12 teams in latest CFP bracket poll?

First four teams out

Rest of the top 25

College Football Playoff bracket 2024

This section will be updated with new bracket once revealed

How new College Football Playoff format works in 2024

The new CFP format consists of 12 teams. Automatic bids are given to the top four conference champions, which are automatically seeded 1-4 regardless of Playoff ranking. The remaining eight spots will comprise at least six at-large bids and then the two highest-ranked remaining conference champs.

So, it could be seven at-large bids and then one more conference champion, or simply eight at-large bids. The CFP committee will determine the exact breakdown of the field. At the very least, this new format guarantees that at least one Group of 5 team makes the field. 

Here's a look at how the College Football Playoff seeding will play out:

First round

• No. 1 team (bye)
• No. 2 team (bye)
• No. 3 team (bye)
• No. 4 team (bye)
• No. 12 team at No. 5 team
• No. 11 team at No. 6 team
• No. 10 team at No. 7 team
• No. 9 team at No. 8 team

Quarterfinals

• No. 1 team vs. No. 8/9 team
• No. 2 team vs. No. 7/10 team
• No. 3 team vs. No. 6/11 team
• No. 4 team vs. No. 5/12 team

MORE: Updated NCAA Top 25 polls after Week 12 of college football season

College Football Playoff predictions

Here are The Sporting News' latest CFP bracket projections after Week 12, according to Bill Bender:

College Football Playoff rankings release schedule 2024

Starting Tuesday night, a weekly ranking reveal show will be on ESPN. The time will vary as it moves around other sporting events on the network. The schedule is listed below.