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UPDATE: The college football playoff picture is clarifying. Earlier today Rumor Central discussed which semifinal games are set to host the first college football playoff games. ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy confirmed the information. He then expanded on what the makeup of the playoff will look like for the 2014 season (see: below).

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With this year's championship game only hours away, the format for the BCS playoff system set to start in 2014 is taking shape. The initial semifinals will be played at the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.

"While it was stressed the situation is not finalized, one source said that was a 'likely scenario,'" Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com reported. "There are other indicators. CBSSports.com also learned the two bowls will be paired together four times as national semifinals on the same Jan. 1 date for the length of the 12-year playoff deal."

The Sugar Bowl, meanwhile, will find a new permanent home on New Year's Day.

"Sugar Bowl officials are set to sign a contract to anchor their bowl on New Year's Day in the playoff era," Dodd added.

Said a source, "It's done."

Due to the proposed setup, the playoffs won't extend any further into the season, and the teams would have the same amount of time between the end of the regular season and their bowl game. The bowl committee wants to retain some of the tradition while taking college football into the future.

- Brent Sobleski


Brett McMurphy
Sources: Cotton favorite for finale
"The Rose and Sugar bowls will host college football's first national semifinals on Jan. 1, 2015, with the AT&T Cotton Bowl a 'prohibitive favorite' to host the national title game on Jan. 12, 2015, sources said Monday. Six bowls, also to include the Orange, will rotate as hosts for the national semifinals. The other three have not been officially determined. Sources told ESPN they would be the Cotton, Tostitos Fiesta and Chick-fil-A bowls."