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          Sights and sounds from new 12-team College Football Playoff

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          'Inside the College Football Playoff' excerpt (1:18)

          In this excerpt from the ESPN Original "Inside the College Football Playoff," ESPN personalities explain the significance of and excitement around the expanded CFP. (1:18)

          • ESPN
          Dec 21, 2024, 09:13 PM ET

          The wait is over.

          The new 12-team College Football Playoff is finally here. It includes teams that stood out and proved themselves a force to be reckoned with on the collegiate gridiron, alongside bluebloods that have earned their respect.

          The CFP kicked off right around a holiday season that brings freezing-cold temperatures and snowy weather, three of the four first-round locations are expected to experience winter conditions.

          The playoffs began on Dec. 20, and college football's postseason looks different with new energies created by the format.

          Here are some sights and sounds from the CFP.

          Ohio State Buckeyes, Tennessee Volunteers

          Electric entrance

          Volunteers travel strong

          Weather isn't impacting the Volunteers

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          Tennessee players emerge shirtless for warmups vs. Ohio State

          A handful of Vols players take to the field shirtless in freezing temperatures ahead of their game vs. the Buckeyes.

          Texas Longhorns 38, Clemson Tigers 24

          Texas fans are riled up for the CFP

          Bevo makes his entrance

          Texas feels the spirit of the CFP

          Penn State Nittany Lions 38, SMU Mustangs 10

          SMU's mascot is locked in

          Snow covers Beaver Stadium

          Notre Dame Fighting Irish 27, Indiana Hoosiers 17

          Notre Dame trolls Indiana: 'We run this state'

          Fighting Irish, Hoosiers arrive for business

          Notre Dame's bagpipe band lays the foundation

          ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit's dog Peter is enjoying the snow

          Snowy weather conditions in South Bend