The College Football Playoff field for the 2024 college football season.

For the first time in its history, the bracket has been expanded to 12 teams, which gave extra meaning and importance to Saturday's conference championship games. Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State each earned first-round byes by winning their respective conferences, while Clemson earned a spot due to winning the ACC.

Texas fell one spot from No. 2 to No. 3 in the final rankings and is the No. 4 overall team following a 22-19 loss to the Bulldogs in the SEC championship game, despite the Bulldogs being without starting quarterback Carson Beck for much of the season half.

REQUIRED READING: Bowl projections: SMU and Alabama vie for final College Football Playoff spot

Tennessee is the third SEC team to hear its name called in the final playoff field. The Volunteers earned the No. 9 seed and will play No. 8 Ohio State in the first-round, while the Longhorns will host No. 12 Clemson.

Alabama was denied a playoff spot following its third loss of the season vs. Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago. SMU earned the No. 11 seed and the final at-large berth despite a loss to Clemson in the ACC championship game on Saturday. South Carolina and Ole Miss were the other SEC teams on the outside looking in.

Here's how the SEC performed in the sixth and final round of the College Football Playoff field released on Sunday:

SEC teams bolded

Here's a look at the first-round matchups in the College Football Playoff

The sixth and final CFP rankings of the 2024 season will air at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 8. This final reveal will set the 12-team playoff bracket.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.