2024 NCAA Division I FBS Football Season: Key Developments and Upcoming Postseason

The 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 155th season of college football in the United States, is nearing its climax. The regular season, which began on August 24, is set to conclude on December 14. The postseason will kick off on the same day and will run through January 20, 2025, culminating in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

This season marks a significant change with the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to a 12-team bracket, a new format that is expected to add more excitement and competition to the postseason. Currently, teams are vying for spots in the expanded playoff, with top-ranked teams like Georgia, Ohio State, and Indiana making strong cases for inclusion.

In addition to the on-field action, there have been notable conference realignments. The Pac-12 announced that it will add Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State from the Mountain West Conference in 2026. This move is part of a broader reshuffling of conference affiliations, with UTEP also announcing its move from Conference USA to the Mountain West in 2026.

Two FCS schools, Delaware and Missouri State, are in the process of transitioning to FBS and will join Conference USA in 2025. Despite their current participation in FCS conferences, they are not eligible for the FCS playoffs due to NCAA transition rules.

The postseason will feature 41 bowl games, with the CFP National Championship being the 42nd game. Teams must have a minimum .500 winning percentage to be bowl-eligible, although teams with losing records may be selected if there are not enough eligible teams.

As the regular season winds down, key matchups and conference championships will determine the final standings and playoff berths. Fans and analysts are closely watching the performances of top teams and contenders to predict the outcomes of the expanded playoff bracket.