Building a CFP Field That Scores

The CFP field is one of the most points-dense predictions on your board, and one of the most misunderstood. You're forecasting the 12-team playoff field, plus the national runner-up (+3) and champion (+7). Here's how the scoring actually breaks down — and how to build a field that holds up.

Named teams vs. G6 markers

Your field is a set of 12, and there are two kinds of slots:

• Named P4 / Notre Dame teams. Pick a specific team. You score +1 for each named team that actually makes the field — straightforward set membership.
• Group-of-Six (G6) markers. Instead of guessing which Group-of-Six team crashes the bracket, you predict how many will. G6 markers are scored count-based: you get credit for min(your G6 count, the actual G6 count). It's the smart way to bank a near-certain point without betting on a long shot by name.

Most strong fields are mostly named P4 teams with one G6 marker held back for the auto-bid you know is coming but can't name in June.

The champion bonus

The runner-up is +3 and the champion is +7, and both must come from your named teams (a G6 marker can't be your champion). That's a big swing: nailing the title game is worth as much as a full conference lock.

How to build it

1. Lock in the obvious seeds first. Auto-seed pulls your top P4 rankings into seeds 1–11; start there and override what you disagree with.
2. Spend one slot on a G6 marker. It's the highest-floor point on the board.
3. Pick your champion from your most-believed contender, not the chalk. The +7 rewards conviction, and a contrarian title call that hits can decide your whole season.

Your field is set once before the season locks, so build it like you mean it — this is a prediction you live with all the way to January.