Football Playoff Details
đ NFL Playoffs â How It Works
Who Makes the Playoffs
- 14 teams total make the NFL playoffs.
- 7 teams from each conference (AFC and NFC).
- Each conference includes:
- 4 division winners (best team in each division).
- 3 âWild Cardâ teams â the best remaining teams that didnât win their division.
Wild Card = âYou didnât win your division, but you were still good enough to get in.â
Teams are ranked based on:
- Winâloss record
- Head-to-head results
- Division and conference performance
- Tiebreakers (yes, it can get complicated)
AFC (American Football Conference)
- Denver Broncos (No. 1 seed â first-round bye)
- New England Patriots
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Houston Texans
- Buffalo Bills
- Los Angeles Chargers
(*Seeds 2â7 play in Wild Card.)
NFC (National Football Conference)
- Seattle Seahawks (No. 1 seed â first-round bye)
- Chicago Bears
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Carolina Panthers
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Green Bay Packers
(*Seeds 2â7 play in Wild Card.)
đ Wild Card matchups include:
- Packers at Bears
- 49ers at Eagles
- Rams at Panthers
- Bills at Jaguars
- Texans at Steelers
- Chargers at Patriots
Playoff Structure (NFL)
- Wild Card Round
- 6 games total
- The #1 seed in each conference gets a bye (they skip this round)
- Divisional Round
- 4 teams remain per conference
- Conference Championships
- 1 game per conference
- Winner advances to the Super Bowl
- Super Bowl
- AFC champion vs NFC champion
- Neutral site, massive spectacle
Overtime Rules (NFL Playoffs)
- No ties allowed.
- Each team must get a chance to possess the ball, even if the first team scores a touchdown.
- The game continues until someone wins â even if it takes multiple overtime periods.
Translation:
Playoff overtime is longer, fairer, and more intense than regular season overtime.
đ College Football Playoff (CFP) â How It Works
College football is very different because there are over 130 teams and no balanced schedule.
Who Makes the Playoffs (New Expanded Format)
- 12 teams make the College Football Playoff.
- Includes:
- Top conference champions (based on rankings)
- At-large teams â strong teams that didnât win their conference but impressed voters
Teams are chosen and ranked by a selection committee, not standings alone.
This means:
Strength of schedule, big wins, and how you look matter â not just wins and losses.
Who Made the 12-Team Field
The 2025â26 College Football Playoff features 12 teams chosen by a committee. This yearâs field:
Top Four Seeds (Bye in First Round):
- Indiana (Big Ten)
- Ohio State (Big Ten)
- Georgia (SEC)
- Texas Tech (Big 12)
Seeds 5â12 (Play First Round):
5. Oregon (Big Ten)
6. Ole Miss (SEC)
7. Texas A&M (SEC)
8. Oklahoma (Big 12)
9. Alabama (SEC)
10. Miami (FL) (ACC)
11. Tulane (American)
12. James Madison (Sun Belt)
đ After first-round wins, Oregon, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Miami advanced to the quarterfinals, and then to the semifinals â with Indiana vs. Oregon and Miami vs. Ole Miss matchups setting the stage for the National Championship game.
Playoff Structure (College Football)
- First Round
- Lower-seeded teams play on campus
- Higher seeds get home games
- Quarterfinals
- Often played in major bowl games
- Semifinals
- Two games determine the finalists
- National Championship
- One winner, one trophy, lots of arguing afterward
Overtime Rules (College Football)
- Teams alternate possessions starting at the opponentâs 25-yard line.
- Each team gets an equal chance to score.
- After multiple overtimes:
- Teams must attempt two-point conversions instead of extra points.
Why it feels wild:
College overtime is fast, chaotic, and can end very quickly.
đ Why Playoff Games Feel Different
- Every game is elimination â lose once and youâre done.
- Coaches take fewer risks early and more late.
- Stars play through injuries theyâd normally sit out.
- Fans, media, and emotions all spike.
For non-fans:
Playoffs are when the sport finally makes sense â win and survive, lose and disappear.