College Football Playoff Projections: A New Era of Possibilities
In the wake of the 12-team College Football Playoff expansion, the landscape of college football has undergone a significant transformation. The door has swung open for programs that were once on the outside looking in, and the possibilities are endless.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake is well aware of the new reality, and he’s not sugarcoating it for his players. “These kids aren’t dumb,” Sitake said. “They know what’s at stake.” The Cougars, now in their second year in the Big 12, are one of the teams on the cusp of making a playoff push.
A Look at the Projected Top 12
Based on current data, here’s how the College Football Playoff selection committee might seed the top 12 teams:
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC Champion)
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten Champion)
3. Miami Hurricanes (ACC Champion)
4. Kansas State Wildcats (Big 12 Champion)
5. Texas Longhorns (SEC Runner-up)
6. Tennessee Volunteers
7. Georgia Bulldogs
8. Penn State Nittany Lions
9. Oregon Ducks
10. Clemson Tigers
11. Michigan Wolverines
12. Boise State Broncos (Mountain West Champion)
First-Round Matchups:
* No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Texas
* No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Penn State
* No. 11 Michigan at No. 6 Tennessee
* No. 10 Clemson at No. 7 Georgia
The Bubble Watch:
* Ole Miss Rebels: A home loss to Kentucky hurt their playoff chances, dropping them from 41% to 35%.
* BYU Cougars: Despite a strong start, the Cougars still have work to do to secure a playoff spot.
* Notre Dame Fighting Irish: A statement win against Louisville boosted their playoff chances by 10.2%.
* Boise State Broncos: The Mountain West Champions are on the cusp of making the playoff, but need to keep winning.
Next Four Out:
* Missouri Tigers: A lackluster performance against Vanderbilt and Boston College has held them back.
* Iowa State Cyclones: An undefeated record is impressive, but a tough November schedule looms.
* Indiana Hoosiers: The undefeated Hoosiers need to keep winning to stay in the playoff conversation.
* USC Trojans: A close call against Wisconsin has them on the bubble, but they still have a chance.
Group of 5 Power Rankings:
1. Boise State Broncos (Mountain West)
2. UNLV Rebels (Mountain West)
3. James Madison Dukes (Sun Belt)
4. Navy Midshipmen (American Athletic)
5. Army Black Knights (American Athletic)
The expanded playoff has opened up new opportunities for teams to make a push for the national title. As the season unfolds, the possibilities will continue to shift and evolve. One thing is certain, though – the road to the championship just got a whole lot more exciting.
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