The College Football Playoff has been won six times by the SEC, twice by the ACC, and twice by the Big Ten. The Alabama Crimson Tide (2015, 2017, 2020) and Georgia Bulldogs (2021, 2022) have won the playoff five times, with LSU winning in 2019. The TCU Horned Frogs have gone the deepest a Big 12 team has ever gone but lost to Georgia in 2022.
This season, the playoff is changing its format. In 2024, the playoff will allow 12 teams instead of 4. On a recent edition of “Always College Football,” Greg McElroy released his playoff bracket. He released his picks from one through four, then five through eight, and nine to 12
Starting with the top four teams, McElroy picked Georgia, the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Miami Hurricanes and the Utah Utes, in that order. This would be Miami and Utah’s first playoff appearances. The Hurricanes came close to reaching the playoff in 2017 but lost consecutive games to the Pittsburgh Panthers and Clemson Tigers towards the end of the season.
“…I think the top four teams are going to be very cut-and-dry at number one, given the scenario we’ve already played out,” McElroy said. “The SEC champs, it’s the Georgia Bulldogs, who I think are gonna be around 12-1. …Number two. The Ohio State Buckeyes, 12-1, the Big Ten champs. …At number three, the ACC Champions, the Miami Hurricanes, who I have at 11-2. …At number four, the Big 12 champs, the Utah Utes.”
Ohio State won the playoff in 2014 with running back Ezekiel Elliot, wide receiver Michael Thomas, and defensive end Joey Bosa on the team. After losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship, Georgia missed the playoff last season and is hungry for a return.
Utah is another team that has been close to reaching the playoff but has never made it. The Utes won two Pac-12 titles from 2021-22.
For the next group of teams, McElroy ranked the Oregon Ducks fifth, the Texas Longhorns sixth, the Alabama Crimson Tide seventh and the Penn State Nittany Lions eighth.
Oregon last played in the playoff in 2014 with Heisman winner Marcus Mariota at quarterback. Texas reached the semifinal of last year’s playoff and lost to the Washington Huskies. Alabama got into the playoff last year after beating Georgia in the SEC Championship. Former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer now leads the Crimson Tide.
If Penn State reaches the playoff, it would be the program’s first appearance. James Franklin has had good teams at Penn State but can never seem to beat Ohio State and the Michigan Wolverines.
Last but not least were teams nine through 12. McElroy believed that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish would be ninth, the Ole Miss Rebels would be 10th, the LSU Tigers would be 11th, and the Memphis Tigers would be 12th.
LSU and Notre Dame were the only teams in that group to have made the playoff. LSU last appeared in 2019, and Notre Dame played in the 2020 semifinal.
“…So, a reminder,” McElroy said. “Number one, Georgia; number two, Ohio State; number three, Miami; number four, Utah. Those are your byes. Number five: Oregon; number six: Texas; number seven: Alabama; number eight: Penn State. Those are the four teams that will host playoff games. Number nine: Notre Dame; number 10; Ole Miss; number 11 LSU; number 12; Memphis.”
The playoff will start on Dec. 20 and go until Jan. 20, 2025.
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