The two participants were announced on December 7, 2014 (12:45 PM ET), based on the final rankings by the CFP committee. The Oregon Ducks will play the Florida State Seminoles. The matchups for the Rose Bowl and the other semifinal, the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, were geographically selected to ensure the top team will be closest to its fanbase.Kelley, Kevin (August 14, 2014). "College Football Playoff Protocol Released", FBSchedules.com. Retrieved August 17, 2014. "The team ranked No. 1 by the selection committee will play team No. 4 in the semifinals. Team No. 2 will meet team No. 3.... When assigning teams to sites, the committee will place the top two seeds at the most advantageous sites, weighing criteria such as convenience of travel for its fans, home-crowd advantage or disadvantage and general familiarity with the host city and its stadium. Preference will go to the No. 1 seed." More than one team from the same conference may participate in the game, and avoiding rematches will not be a selection factor.College Football Playoff Selection Committee Fact Sheet , College Football Playoff, October 15, 2013
