Complete College Football Playoff Bracket Expert Predictions

The initial 12-team College Football Playoff bracket is set. The undefeated Oregon Ducks claimed the top seed, while the SMU Mustangs edged the Alabama Crimson Tide to sneak into the field for the final spot. The Group of 5 automatic bid went to the Boise State Broncos, who also received a first-round bye as one of the highest-ranked conference champions. The Georgia Bulldogs (SEC) and Arizona State Sun Devils (Big 12) took the other two byes after winning their title games on Saturday.

The month-long march to the national championship game begins Dec. 20, when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish No. 7 hosts the Indiana Hoosiers no. 10. Three more matches in the first round will be played at the campus grounds on December 21. The quarterfinals will be contested on December 31 (Fiesta Bowl) and January 1 (Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls). The semifinals hosted by the Orange and Cotton Bowls on January 9 and 10, respectively, before Atlanta hosts the title game on January 20.

Sports Illustrated college football writers Pat Forde and Bryan Fischer make their bracket predictions plus the full CFP schedule with game times and TV information.

No. 10 Indiana at Notre Dame no. 7, at 8 p.m. ET Dec. 20 (ABC/ESPN)

No. 11 SMU at Penn State no. 6, noon ET Dec. 21 (TNT/Max)

No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, at 4 p.m. ET Dec. 21 (TNT/Max)

No. 9 Tennessee at Ohio State no. 8, at 8 p.m. ET Dec. 21 (ABC/ESPN)

Fiesta Bowl: At State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, at 7:30 p.m. ET Dec. 31 (ESPN)

Peach Bowl: At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, at 1 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)

Rose Bowl: At Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, at 5 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)

Sugar bowl: At Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, 8:45 p.m. ET Jan. 1 (ESPN)

Orange bowl: At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla., 7:30 p.m. ET Jan. 9 (ESPN)

Cotton bowl: At AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, at 7:30 p.m. ET Jan. 10 (ESPN)

At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, at 7:30 p.m. ET Jan. 20 (ESPN)