Dec 8, 2024, 03:27 PM ET

The debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff is upon us, and after the field was finalized Sunday, we are now just days away from arguably the best part of this new format: the first-round games.

If one were to hand-pick four locations for the first-ever on-campus playoff games, you’d be hard-pressed to select a more entertaining and fitting set of venues. From Happy Valley to South Bend to the Horseshoe in Columbus and DKR in Austin, fans of blue bloods, playoff stalwarts and first timers will flock to some of the best environments in the sport for four compelling matchups.

The eight teams who find themselves here, in need of not three but four wins to secure the sport’s ultimate prize, are an intriguing combination of programs. Several began the year with title aspirations; others did not. Some may have lost hope along the way, but thanks to this new playoff format, they now have a chance to prove their worth once again on the field.

Here’s a first look at those first-round matchups. — Paolo Uggetti