Official Rules
Eckrich College Football Playoff Bracket Challenge
Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID IN WHOLE OR PART WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. CONTESTANTS RESIDING IN AREAS WHERE THE CONTEST IS VOID MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST AND ARE INELIGIBLE TO WIN PRIZES. SEE ELIGIBILITY SECTION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Sponsor: Smithfield Packaged Meats Sales Corp., 111 Commerce St., Smithfield, VA 23430.
Administrator: Signature Sports Group, 1300 S. Mint St. Suite 405, Charlotte, NC 28203.
This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by CFP Events Inc., CFP Administration, LLC, College Football Playoff Foundation, Inc., or any of their respective members, officers, agents, employees, or representatives. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest must be directed to Sponsor.
Eligibility
The Eckrich College Football Bracket Challenge (the "Contest") is open to US residents 18 years of age or older and the age of majority in their jurisdiction of primary residence. Employees of Contest Providers, their respective parents, their affiliates and subsidiaries and the immediate family members of each are not eligible to win prizes. Prize recipients may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and publicity release. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission to use winner's name and information provided by winner for promotional purposes without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. All applicable taxes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners.
Registration
Contest begins on August 24, 2024 at 12:00:00 AM ET and ends on November 12, 2024 at 11:59:59 PM ET (the "Contest Period"). To enter the Contest, you must first register using the Registration Form and enter the required information. Limit one registration per person per Entry Period (as specified below). You may register by visiting https://www.OfficialCFPBracketChallenge.com. The organizers of the Contest and its administrator (hereafter collectively "Contest Providers") are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, illegible, incomprehensible or misdirected entries, bugs, failures in servers, hardware or software transmission failure or lost, delayed or corrupted data transmission. Entries will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet Access provider, on-line service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. All entries become the property of Contest Providers and will not be returned to entrant. Multiple entries by the same person using one or more email accounts will result in disqualification. No mechanically or electronically reproduced entries will be accepted. All entries must be submitted from a valid email account that may be identified by reverse domain name search. Potential winners may be requested to provide Contest Providers with proof of identification (address and birth date) and proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning entry.
How to Enter
Contestants will compete against one another in an attempt to earn the most points accrued by predicting the 12 seeds in the 2024-2025 College Football Playoff Bracket Challenge ("CFP Bracket"). The prediction period will be open from August 24 to November 12, 2024, divided into 11 separate picking intervals (each, an "Entry Period"). The contestants who accumulate the most points (and, if necessary, are declared winners by virtue of the tie-breaker) will win the prizes as set forth in the Prizes section below. Each contestant's points earned from each correct prediction made will be added together to determine his/her ranking.
After you register for free, proceed to the Make Picks page and submit your picks anytime during the official entry period from 12:00 AM ET on Saturday, August 24 to 11:59 PM ET on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Follow all additional instructions listed on that page, observing all posted deadlines.
Complete the entry form by predicting the 12 teams by seed position in the CFP Bracket. The format of the College Football Playoff is built on a 12-team bracket. The 12 participating teams are the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and will receive a first-round bye. The remaining teams, including the fifth conference champion, will be seeded 5-12 based on their final ranking. When you press the submit button your picks will be checked for consistency, and you will be informed whether or not they were accepted and saved. If not, you will be asked to correct and resubmit your selections.
The entry deadline for each Entry Period is posted on the Make Picks page. No submissions will be accepted after the deadline for any reason. The sole determinant of time for the purposes of the Promotion will be the servers of the Contest Providers. Contestants entering picks close to the deadline do so with this information in mind.
Entry Notes
- Only one valid entry is allowed per contestant per Entry Period.
- You may change your picks in any Entry Period before the deadline.
- Registrants can have a maximum off 11 total entries - one entry per Entry Period.
Winner Selection and Tie-Breaking Procedures
For each seed prediction you make, you are awarded the points specified for correct picks and for the Entry Period in which you enter your bracket (to earn an early picking point bonus for that Entry Period) which will be used to rank you relative to the other contestants. The more total points you earn, the better your rank will be. The number of points awarded is described in the table below. The contestant with the most points at the end of the Contest (or the tie-break winner, as described below) will be named the Grand Prize winner.
Tie-breaker
Amongst people tied in bracket points, the contestant whose picks were submitted earlier will be ranked better. Note that if you submit your picks and then change them, we will use the time we received your last set of picks for the purposes of the final tie-breaker. In the event two or more entries have the exact same time stamp, a random draw between all tied entries will determine the Grand Prize winner.
Contest Schedule and Scoring System
| Weekly Entry Period | Pick Deadline | Early Picking Point Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Period 1: Aug. 24 - Sept. 3 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Sept. 3 | 80 |
| Entry Period 2: Sept. 4 - 10 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Sept. 10 | 70 |
| Entry Period 3: Sept. 11 - 17 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Sept. 17 | 50 |
| Entry Period 4: Sept. 18 - 24 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 40 |
| Entry Period 5: Sept. 25 - Oct. 1 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 35 |
| Entry Period 6: Oct. 2 - 8 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 30 |
| Entry Period 7: Oct. 9 - 15 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 25 |
| Entry Period 8: Oct. 16 - 22 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 20 |
| Entry Period 9: Oct. 23 - 29 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 10 |
| Entry Period 10: Oct. 30 - Nov. 5 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Nov. 5 | 5 |
| Entry Period 11: Nov. 6 - 12 | 11:59:59 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Nov. 12 | 0 |
Bracket Scoring System
Here are the points by seed and the proximity bonus points you can earn.
| Seed Choice | Points awarded if choice is in Top 12 | Exact Seed Bonus Points | + or -1 seed Bonus Points | + or -2 seeds Bonus Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 8 |
| 2 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 8 |
| 3 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 8 |
| 4 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 8 |
| 5 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 6 |
| 6 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 6 |
| 7 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 6 |
| 9 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 5 |
| 10 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 5 |
| 11 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 5 |
| 12 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 5 |
For example, if you predicted Alabama to fill the 4th Seed in the bracket, you'd earn:
- 25 points if Alabama was seeded 4th by the CFP Committee
- 19 points if Alabama was seeded 3rd or 5th
- 18 points if Alabama was seeded 2nd or 6th
- 10 points if Alabama was seeded anywhere else in the top 12
- 0 points if Alabama was unseeded
A choice must be among the top 12 seeds to earn any points.
Prize Descriptions
Grand Prize:
The contestant with the most points at the end of the Contest (or the tie-break winner, if applicable) will be awarded the Grand Prize, consisting of a trip for the winner and one (1) guest to the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship game in Atlanta, GA currently scheduled for January 20, 2025. The Grand Prize includes two (2) tickets to the game; two (2) night hotel accommodations (Sunday 1/19/2025 and Monday 1/20/2025 nights), including one (1) standard room, double occupancy at a hotel chosen at the Contest Providers' discretion; two (2) round-trip coach airfare tickets (or other means of transportation deemed appropriate solely in Contest Providers' discretion) between a major commercial airport near winner's residence to Atlanta, GA; and a $500 travel gift card. All travel expenses and related or incidental costs not expressly stated in the prize description above, including but not limited to, ground transportation, incidentals, gratuities, taxes, or other expenses, are the sole responsibility of winner. Contest Providers will not replace any lost, mutilated, or stolen tickets or prize items. Seat locations and timing to be determined at the sole discretion of Contest Providers. Tickets may be subject to standard raincheck and cancellation policies and other terms, conditions and restrictions set by the issuer. Contest Providers are not responsible for prize fulfillment if the game is delayed, postponed or cancelled or tickets become unavailable for any reason. If the winner is unable or unwilling to attend the game, the prize package will be forfeited in its entirety and an alternate winner may be selected. Only one (1) Grand Prize will be awarded for the Contest.
Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of Grand Prize: $3,000.
Random Drawing Prize:
After each Entry Period 1 through 10, the Contest Providers will conduct a random drawing from among all entries received in each Entry Period to select one (1) random winner in each Entry Period. Each Random Drawing winner will receive a custom Eckrich® bracket skewer. Drawings will take place at 12 p.m. ET on the Friday following the close of each Entry Period for a total of 10 drawings. Limit one Random Drawing Prize per person, per household during the Contest Period.
ARV for each Random Drawing Prize: $75
ARV for all Random Drawing Prizes: $750
Total ARV for all Contest Prizes: $3,750
Prizes will be distributed within thirty (30) days after each prize winner has been successfully contacted and notified of their prize and has complied with all contest rules and requirements. Contest Providers reserve the right to substitute a prize for another of equal or greater value for any reason. All applicable taxes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners.
Winner Notification
Determination of the potential prize winners shall take place within one week following the completion of the prize period by Contest Providers whose decision shall be final (see GENERAL CONDITIONS below). Potential winners will be notified by email. If potential winner is unreachable after 3 days an alternate potential winner will be selected by rank according to the rules. Potential winners may be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Prize Acceptance Form/Release of liability within three days of notification to be declared a prize winner. Noncompliance within this time period may result in disqualification and an alternate potential winner being chosen.
Odds of Winning
The odds of winning the Grand Prize depends on the number of qualified entries received, the skill used in making your picks, and your time of entry. The odds of winning a Random Drawing Prize depends on the number of qualified entries received for each Entry Period.
Use of Contest Information
Contest Providers reserve the right to use any and all information related to the Contest, including information on contestants obtained through the Contest, for internal purposes with regards to the Contest, unless prohibited by law. Contestant data will not be provided to any third party unless the contestant has agreed to it during registration or on the contest site. Entrants further grant to Contest Providers the right to use and publish their proper name and city/state of residence online and in print, or any other media, in connection with the Contest.
Conduct
Contest Providers reserve the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual they find to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the game or website; to be acting in violation of the Official Rules; or to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. You agree that in the use of the Contest -- including but not limited to chat areas, and the registration of screen names or group names -- you will not use obscene, libelous or slanderous language, or language that infringes upon a third party's trademark, trade name or other intellectual property right or right to privacy. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Contest Providers, their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, sponsors, officers, consultants, agents, and employees against and from all claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses asserted by third parties alleging that the Contest includes obscenity, libel, slander, or infringes upon the third party's intellectual property or privacy rights, as a direct result of your actions in the use of the Contest. You further agree to not knowingly: damage or cause interruption of the Contest; prevent others from using the Contest; obtain or modify another user's non-public account information without his/her consent. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A CONTESTANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE GAME IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, CONTEST PROVIDERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH CONTESTANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Limitations of Liability
Winners assume liability for injuries caused or claimed to be caused by participating in the contest, or by the acceptance, possession, use of, or failure to receive any prize. Contest Providers are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the contest or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions in the Contest. Contest Providers assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Contest Providers are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of email or players on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Website or combination thereof, including injury or damage to participant's or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading materials in the Contest. If, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Contest Providers which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, Contest Providers reserve the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest.
Intellectual Property
The Contest and all of the related pages, contents, and code are copyright © 2024 Contest Administrator and/or affiliated sponsors. All rights reserved. The Eckrich College Football Playoff Bracket Challenge is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by any league or member teams. Copying or unauthorized use of any copyrighted material or trademarks without the express written consent of its owner is strictly prohibited.
General Conditions
The decisions of the Contest Providers are final on all matters of fact, interpretation, eligibility, procedure, and fulfillment. All applicable taxes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners, if any. By entering this contest, you acknowledge acceptance of all contest rules and agree to be bound by them. Contest Providers reserve the right to withdraw, amend, or terminate this Contest at any time without prior notice.