College Football Playoff

By Katie Brinn

The New Year is fast approaching, and you know what that means ... the end of the college football season. But if you’re used to celebrating the New Year by catching the Bowl Championship Series, you’re going to have to adjust your expectations this season.

College football is getting its first Division 1 playoff ever, but it won’t be the football version of March Madness.

In fact, only four teams will be in the bracket: Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State. Those teams were handpicked by a 12-person committee that used the teams’ records and stats to help determine the rankings.

But the committee didn’t rely on numbers alone to decide who made the cut. In fact, they haven’t released a full list of their criteria at all, and they ultimately let their judgment as sports enthusiasts determine which teams are the best in the division.

The top four will duke it out in the two semifinal games on New Year’s Day, and the winners will fight for the national championship on Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

But does that mean it’s game over for the 39 bowl games you’ve been looking forward to all year?

To find out, watch the video above, so when it comes to the College Football Playoff, you can say, “Now I get it.”