The College Football Playoff Rankings Show is tonight at 7 pm Eastern (5 pm Mountain). The first-ever edition of the 12-team Playoff is expected to be exciting. The new format works a little differently. Here is a basic overview of what to expect.
The conference champions from the Power 4 Conferences (Big 12, ACC, SEC, and the Big Ten) will have a guaranteed a spot in the Playoffs alongside the best Group of Six Champion (Mountain West, MAC, PAC-12, AAC, Sun Belt, and Conference USA). The remaining seven seeds will be determined by the 12 best teams after the conference champions. The top four conference champions will receive a first-round bye and seeds 5-12 will play a first-round game with the higher seeds hosting at their home stadium.
Once the first round is over, the winners will play the top four teams in a bowl game. The semifinals will then take place at other bowls. Once the semifinals are over, the National Championship will be played in Atlanta, Georgia between the two remaining teams with the winner being declared the National Champion.
The 12-team playoff is new, and with it comes new ways of predicting the playoff. Here is my prediction for the first round of rankings.
Who will be the first-round teams?
My current prediction puts Boise State as the Group of Six Champion. Boise State has been shot out of a cannon, and with seven wins, this team is different. Boise State was an average team for years until they clicked and dominated their schedule. Their only loss was to top-ranked Oregon (only by three). This team could be a dark horse up in Idaho.
Other Teams
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- Army
- Notre Dame
- Washington State
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Tennessee
Why these teams?
Alongside Boise State, these seven teams were selected because of their current record, AP Poll ranking, strength of schedule, and position in their respective conferences. While Indiana is at the top of the Big 10, their opponents haven’t turned out to be very good. Their only notable win came against the 5-4 Nebraska Cornhuskers, winning 56-7. Meanwhile, Oregon has a much better schedule with a narrow victory against Boise State and playoff-favorite Ohio State.
Army is the darling of the non-power schools, boasting a record of 8-0. While their schedule isn’t as strong as others, their standing as one of the FBS’s last five undefeated teams certainly gives them a strong case. Independent Notre Dame looks as sharp as ever, with a big win against 25th-ranked Louisville in South Bend. Washington State is one of the two teams left over from the PAC-12 mass departure.
Ohio State has been very good, edging out Penn State on the road. The defeat against Oregon is forgivable, and if they keep winning, the Buckeyes could be in the playoffs. Texas and Tennessee are the SEC teams I expect to be in the first round. They have convincing records and knowing the difficulty of winning in the SEC, the records hold up. They probably won’t win the SEC but could still get in. They have a weak schedule but they are undefeated, causing me to give them a chance.
Who will be the teams with a bye?
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- BYU
- Oregon
- Georgia
- Miami
Why these teams?
Let’s start with #1 Oregon. With big wins over Boise State and Ohio State, the Ducks are looking as good as ever. They are undefeated and are primed for a deep playoff run. Behind star quarterback Dillion Gabriel the Oregon Ducks are a team to fear. They have a strong schedule, have played well in every game, and have won some games that nobody expected.
Georgia has been a powerhouse for years. Denied the playoffs a year ago, the Bulldogs are angry and have dominated, only losing to Alabama. While the loss to the Crimson Tide may look bad, the Bulldogs are a strong team with high potential.
Miami is another surprise team that looks like they could win the ACC. With a moderate strength of schedule and a high-powered offense, the Hurricanes could be the dark horse of the Power Four Conferences, shocking everyone.
BYU has been the biggest surprise of the season, starting 8-0. The Cougars have big wins against SMU and Kansas State mixed in with a miracle at home against Oklahoma State. The Cougars also have an energized fanbase who bring the noise home or away. Mixed in with the electric play of Jake Retzlaff, LJ Martin, and Tyler Batty, the Cougars are set for a real Cinderella Story.
First Ranking Predictions:
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- Georgia
- Oregon
- BYU
- Miami
- Indiana
- Texas
- Ohio State
- Tennessee
- Boise State
- Army
- Notre Dame
- Washington State
