The College Football Playoff selection committee is on the verge of revealing its fifth top-25 ranking on Tuesday night. These rankings play a pivotal role in the playoff process, offering crucial insights into the standings of teams vying for the national title as the season enters its final week before the bracket is set. With less than a month until the highly anticipated 12-team College Football Playoff format kicks off on Friday, Dec. 20 with a primetime Friday night game, the postseason is set to be an intense battle where every game becomes a must-win for teams aiming to keep their national championship hopes alive. The first round continues with three crucial elimination games on Saturday, Dec. 21.

Teams and Their Paths

The teams that emerge victorious in their first-round games will advance to the CFP quarterfinals to face the top four seeded teams. Each of these seeded teams received a bye to start the playoff. The quarterfinal matchups, scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Wednesday, Jan. 1, will take place in one of four renowned bowl games: the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, or Sugar Bowl. The teams that win their quarterfinal games will then progress to the College Football Playoff semifinals, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9. These matchups will ultimately determine who will compete for the national championship on Monday, Jan. 20.

First-Round Games

The College Football Playoff first round begins on Friday, Dec. 20 and will be aired on ABC and ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. Fans have the option to stream the action with a Fubo subscription, which offers a free trial. The specific game times and channels for the first-round games are as follows:Game 1: Friday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPNGame 2: Saturday, Dec. 21 at noon on TNTGame 3: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. on TNTGame 4: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN

Quarterfinal Matchups

The quarterfinal matchups are set for Tuesday, Dec. 31 and Wednesday, Jan. 1. The games will be aired on ESPN at the following times:Fiesta Bowl: Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m.Rose Bowl: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 5 p.m.Sugar Bowl: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 8:45 p.m.

Semifinal Showdowns

The semifinal games will take place on Thursday, Jan. 9. The times and channels for these matchups are as follows:Orange Bowl: Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNCotton Bowl: Friday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

National Championship

The highly anticipated College Football Playoff national championship will be held on Monday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. This is the ultimate showdown where the best teams in the country will compete for the coveted national title.We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.