College football will culminate on January 20 with the the CFP National Championship between Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
The expanded format raises the stakes on the field and in the bank accounts of the schools and their respective conferences.
This unprecedented format for the NCAA playoffs will have some $115 million at stake. Each conference receives $4 million for each team that reaches the 12 finalists, and another $4 million for those that reach the quarterfinals
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What is the payout for Notre Dame and Ohio State in the CFP National Championship?
The College Football Playoff’s prize distribution for the 2024/25 season ensures that teams are rewarded for advancing further into the competition. Every team that qualified for the playoff received a base payout of $4 million.
This payout applies to each of the 12 teams that make the field, regardless of how far they progress.
For many programs, just making the playoff guarantees a substantial financial boost for their athletic department and conference.
Teams that advance past the first round receive an additional $4 million for reaching the quarterfinals. If a team moves forward to the semifinals, they earn an extra $6 million.
The two teams that reach the National Championship Game collect an additional $6 million each.
How much money does the CFP National Championship get in 2025?
The two teams that reach the National Championship Game collect around $20 million each.
This layered structure incentivizes performance, as teams that make deeper runs in the playoffs generate significantly more revenue for themselves and their conferences.
In addition to these performance-based payouts, each team receives $3 million per round to help cover travel and preparation expenses.