The landscape of College Football Playoff is about to undergo a significant transformation in the upcoming season. Gone are the days of the four-team playoff; instead, we’re embracing a massive expansion to accommodate 12 teams.
At the heart of this shift lies the inclusion of not just the highest-rated conference champions but also an array of high-ranked programs. The top four conference champions will be granted byes into the quarterfinals, setting the stage for an exciting postseason.
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In the midst of these impending changes, there’s a whisper in the air that the Pac-12 might be facing a perilous fate. To address this, discussions have revolved around potential adjustments, including reserving playoff spots for the top five conference champions and offering seven at-large bids, or, in a more radical move, abolishing automatic qualifiers altogether.
The second release of the College Football Playoff Rankings by the selection committee occurred on Tuesday night. In this exercise, we’ll rely on these rankings to determine conference champions and at-large teams. In the event that there are fewer than six conferences represented in the rankings, we’ll project enough to make it to that magic number.
For this week’s rankings, the CFP selection committee opted to maintain the status quo within the top 10. The most notable changes include Oklahoma’s exit from the top tier, with Ole Miss and Penn State rising a spot. Ole Miss’ ascent has led to an exciting first-round matchup against Alabama.
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Breaking into the playoff picture, we have Louisville, currently ranked 11th. At the same time, Tulane has climbed to the 22nd spot in the CFP Rankings, becoming the sole representative from the Group of Five teams in the rankings.
Now, let’s delve into how the 12-team playoff would shape up after nine weeks of the 2023 season:
Ole Miss vs. Alabama: A Battle of Titans
The 9th-ranked Ole Miss takes on the 8th-ranked Alabama, with the victor earning the opportunity to challenge the powerhouse that is (1) Ohio State.
Tulane’s Ascent Against Michigan
In this clash, (12) Tulane goes head to head with (5) Michigan. The winner of this bout advances to square off against (4) Washington.
Louisville’s Challenge Against Oregon
(11) Louisville faces off against (6) Oregon, with the winner moving on to confront (3) Florida State.
Penn State Meets Texas in a Showdown
(10) Penn State takes on (7) Texas, vying for the right to challenge the formidable (2) Georgia.
The forthcoming season’s College Football Playoff is set to be an electrifying spectacle, as a dozen teams battle it out for supremacy on the gridiron. Stay tuned for more updates as the action unfolds throughout the season.
