Florida Gators projected in 12‑team CFP bracket, would host first‑round game

Florida would appear in the 12‑team College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket for the first time, according to the Associated Press Top 25 released on Sunday, and the Gators would host a first‑round game.

First‑year head coach Jon Sumrall’s team jumped 13 places to No 8 in the poll, securing the final home‑field slot and giving the SEC a total of six representatives in the field.

The projected top four seeds are Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame and Miami, while Ohio State, Indiana, Alabama and Florida would each host a first‑round matchup.

The CFP format allows the five highest‑ranked conference champions – four from the Power Four and one from the Group of Six – to qualify automatically, with the remaining seven spots filled by the next highest‑ranked teams. Notre Dame would qualify as an at‑large if it finishes within the top 12.

Based on the AP rankings, the opening round would see No 9 Mississippi at No 8 Florida, No 12 Boise State at Ohio State, No 10 BYU at No 7 Alabama and No 11 LSU at No 6 Indiana. The winners would face the top‑seeded teams in the quarter‑finals.

First‑round games are scheduled for 18 and 19 December, with quarter‑finals on 30 December and 1 January, semifinals on 14 and 15 January, and the championship on 25 January at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Source: ABC News. Photo: Pixabay / Pexels.