Find a way.
It ain’t over. The play is not dead, and there is still time left on the game clock.
In a 24-team College Football Playoff, in mid-October, all you have to do is find a way.
Fight your way back.
In August, the Big Ten and others began “populating” the idea of an expanded College Football Playoff of 24 or 28 teams. The 24-team model, which seems to have the most support in private circles, would include:
- Four automatic qualifiers from each of the Power 4 conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC)
- Two automatic qualifiers from the Group of 6 (American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt and Pac-12)
- Six at-large selections to be made by the College Football Playoff selection committee — the only selections the committee gets to make
Which begs the query: How would the 24-team CFP look if the match started at present?
In my evaluation of a 24-team format, a whopping 45 Energy 4 applications — together with 10 from the SEC, 12 from the Large Ten, eight from the Large 12, and 7 from the ACC — would nonetheless have a path to the postseason. And that’s earlier than factoring in Notre Dame or the Group of 6 contenders.
9 weeks into the season, groups which have confirmed themselves in convention play nonetheless have simply as a lot alternative to win all of it as No. 1 Ohio State. That’s an enormous win for the game. It creates a extra democratic system for figuring out the very best workforce, with much less debate and extra certainty.
The scoreboard has extra company.
And followers have the very best probability within the sport’s historical past to see their workforce play for — and win — a nationwide title.
Since you — and rattling close to half the game — nonetheless have an opportunity to take all of it.
You’ve nonetheless acquired a shot at changing into legendary. And we’ll all bear witness to that run in probably the most raucous, vibrant ambiance this facet of the cosmos — beginning precisely the place it ought to: on a university campus, close to a scholar union, with college students packed into their part. At house.
If that ain’t divine, I do not wish to know.
This 24-team format options 18 computerized qualifiers
I’ve set it as much as appear to be what you’ll learn under and stand in to signify the School Soccer Playoff choice committee.
The highest 4 groups from every of the Energy 4 conferences robotically qualify for the CFP. The 2 highest-ranked Group of 6 groups — not essentially convention champions — additionally obtain computerized bids. The remaining six at-large spots are stuffed on the choice committee’s discretion.
Groups are seeded by the choice committee
Because the personification of the choice committee, I’m inspired to take note of head-to-head matchups, power of file, teaching, personnel and high quality of out-of-conference play when seeding groups.
Profitable a convention championship is a robust indicator for a top-seeded workforce.
Profitable a convention title doesn’t robotically qualify a workforce for a better seed than a non-conference champion.
The 24-team playoff’s best power is the addition of two rounds of house video games
My prime 25, which you can read here, is the idea on which these seedings are assigned.
The primary two rounds of a 24-team playoff would function two rounds of house video games. The 4 groups that advance by the opening rounds will play their subsequent recreation at a New Yr’s Six Bowl in a impartial web site semifinal.
Groups seeded No. 1 to No. 8 get a bye and a house playoff recreation. Groups seeded No. 9 to No. 16 every open the match with a house playoff recreation. Groups seeded No. 17 to No. 24 every should play on the street twice to advance to the impartial web site quarterfinals.
I have to summarize this, as a result of it’s the very best facet of the 24-team CFP: 16 totally different campuses host house playoff video games.
The 110,000 who flip Ohio Stadium right into a haunted home for opponents when the Buckeyes take the sphere.
The 92,000 at Sanford Stadium, the place them Dawgs is hell.
The 103,000 who convey the twelfth Man to life at Kyle Area.
They matter now greater than ever.
That’s what’s created right here, and that is the way it seems:
The Week 9 24-team CFP bracket
ELITE TIER
1. Ohio State (7-0)
Ohio State is permitting simply 5.9 factors per recreation by seven video games — not solely the bottom common within the FBS, but additionally the fewest the Buckeyes have allowed at this level in a season since 1973.
2. Indiana (7-0)
Indiana is the one workforce within the FBS with two wins over AP top-10 opponents — and so they rank prime 4 nationally in level differential (226), factors per recreation (43.9), factors allowed per recreation (11.6), and sacks (26).
3. Texas A&M (7-0)
Texas A&M is the one FBS workforce to have recorded 4 video games with 40-plus factors whereas remaining undefeated.
4. Alabama (6-1)
Alabama has recorded 4 consecutive wins towards ranked SEC opponents — a feat that has solely occurred twice within the historical past of the AP ballot, together with Alabama’s 2016 workforce.
5. Oregon (6-1)
No Energy 4 workforce is scoring extra factors than Oregon, which averages 44.1 per recreation. Oregon can be certainly one of solely three FBS groups to common over 40 factors per recreation whereas permitting fewer than 15 (alongside Indiana and Texas Tech).
6. Georgia (6-1)
Since 2021, Georgia is 59-6 — the best successful proportion of any workforce in that span — and received back-to-back nationwide championships in 2021 and 2022. Throughout the identical interval, Georgia is 13-4 towards AP prime 10 groups and 22-6 towards prime 25 groups—each the best successful percentages within the FBS.
7. Ole Miss (6-1)
Ole Miss ranks within the prime 10 amongst Energy 4 groups in yards per recreation (491.9) and massive performs (74)— and ranks within the prime 5 of Energy 4 groups in scrimmage performs of 25-plus yards, 30-plus yards, 40-plus yards, and 50-plus yards.
(Large performs: rushes of 10-plus yards and receptions of 20-plus yards.)
8. Vanderbilt (6-1, at-large)
Vanderbilt has crushed two AP top-15 groups in the identical season for the primary time and has additionally recorded wins towards AP top-10 opponents in back-to-back seasons for the primary time.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
9. Tennessee (5-2, at-large)
Losses to Alabama and Georgia may become losses to 2 groups who will play for the SEC Championship. The Vols lack a top-25 victory however might need an opportunity to get two within the subsequent 5 video games with Oklahoma and Vanderbilt left on the schedule.
10. BYU (7-0)
The Cougars are the one remaining undefeated workforce within the Large 12 and have the clearest path to the CFP of any workforce in that league. BYU seems like a workforce that would compete within the 24-team CFP with a scoring protection ranked nineteenth nationally, giving up simply 18.2 factors per recreation.
11. Georgia Tech (7-0)
The best-ranked ACC workforce can be the final undefeated workforce within the convention, and the one ranked opponent left on the Yellow Jackets’ schedule is their conventional out-of-conference rival, Georgia. Given the way in which the season has performed out, it’s doable Georgia Tech ends the common season with 11 wins towards groups that received’t end within the prime 25 when the postseason begins.
12. Missouri (6-1, at-large)
Missouri’s solely loss is to Alabama, which has a declare to being the very best workforce within the SEC. The Tigers boast the nation’s No. 2 whole protection, permitting simply 243 yards per recreation. They function one of many nation’s finest tailbacks in Ahmad Hardy and have an opportunity so as to add a top-10 win to their resume towards Vanderbilt this weekend.
13. Oklahoma (6-1, at-large)
The Sooners personal the SEC’s finest scoring protection (9.4 factors per recreation) and whole protection (213 yards allowed per recreation). Their recreation towards Ole Miss begins a run of 5 consecutive opponents who’re all ranked within the prime 25, giving Oklahoma one of many strongest power of schedule arguments within the sport.
14. Louisville (6-1)
The Cardinals’ win on the street at then-No. 2 Miami is the very best win of any workforce within the ACC, and their solely loss is to a top-25 opponent who wanted double-overtime to defeat them (Virginia).
15. Miami (6-1)
The Hurricanes took a house loss to an unranked opponent whereas ranked No. 2 within the nation — however thankfully for them, Louisville is a one-loss workforce that has confirmed formidable. If Miami avoids one other slip-up towards an unranked workforce, they’ll end the common season 11–1, with no ranked opponents remaining after Week 8. The priority? Their finest wins may find yourself being towards South Florida and SMU — not precisely elite competitors.
16. Notre Dame (5-2, at-large)
The Combating Irish’s résumé took successful when Louisville walked into Laborious Rock Stadium and beat a Miami workforce that Notre Dame couldn’t — in the identical venue. However their loss to Texas A&M doesn’t look as dangerous now, with the Aggies off to a 7–0 begin for the primary time since 1994. Notre Dame’s finest win got here final week towards a then-ranked USC workforce, and it might face an undefeated Navy in three weeks. That, together with a 10-win common season, is likely to be sufficient for the Irish to slip into an at-large spot.
THE ROAD
17. South Florida (6-1)
at Notre Dame
The Bulls are the one ranked workforce within the prime 25 representing a G6 convention, and so they’re 6-1 for the primary time since 2018. This week, they’ve an infinite recreation towards 6-1 Memphis for what may very well be one of many two G6 spots on this format. It’s the uncommon recreation between two G6 groups within the common season that would have massive implications for the postseason.
18 Texas Tech (6-1)
at Miami
The Crimson Raiders have been certainly one of 5 undefeated groups to undergo a loss throughout Week 8, however they nonetheless have a street to the Large 12 title recreation and the CFP. Joey McGuire’s workforce is on a collision course with 7-0 BYU in Week 11. Their top-25 win towards Utah stays its signature win to this point, although.
19. Illinois (5-2)
at Louisville
Illinois has the doubtful honor of struggling losses to the No. 1 and No. 2 groups within the nation heading into Week 9. Whereas its 18-point defeat to Ohio State at house doesn’t look good, it’s 53-point defeat to Indiana seems catastrophic — except the Buckeyes and Hoosiers end the season undefeated and the Combating Illini can win each recreation left on its schedule. Each of these objectives are inside attain for Bret Bielema’s workforce.
20. Cincinnati (6-1)
at Oklahoma
Cincinnati might change into the primary workforce to succeed in the CFP as a G6 and P4 program if it continues its current trajectory. The Bearcats haven’t misplaced a single Large 12 recreation and could have a possibility to indicate they’re the very best workforce within the league earlier than the postseason with remaining matchups towards Utah and BYU.
21. Arizona State (5-2)
at Missouri
With Sam Leavitt at QB, the Solar Devils are 17-4 courting again to final season. Their losses in 2025 embrace Mississippi State and a Utah workforce that beat ASU with out Leavitt at QB. However their top-10 win towards beforehand undefeated Texas Tech does a number of work to spice up the Solar Devils’ résumé.
22 Virginia (6-1)
at Georgia Tech
The Cavaliers are banking on transitive wins and a comparatively smooth path to finish the season. Their finest victory is over Louisville — the workforce that took down the Week 9 No. 2 — and so they don’t face one other ranked opponent the remainder of the way in which. Meaning UVA wouldn’t need to see Georgia Tech or Miami till the postseason.
23. Texas (5-2, at-large)
at BYU
Nobody has performed the Buckeyes nearer this season than the Longhorns, who, regardless of two losses, managed to knock off a then-undefeated and prime 10 Oklahoma workforce. With three video games left towards prime 10 opponents — Vanderbilt, Georgia and Texas A&M — it’s conceivable {that a} 10-win Texas workforce with 4 wins over top-10 opponents earns an at-large choice.
24 Navy (6-0)
at Tennessee
The Midshipmen are the final undefeated workforce within the Group of 6 conferences and will see themselves all however solidify their AQ spot with wins over Notre Dame in Week 11, USF in Week 12 and Memphis in Week 14.
Above is how the CFP would look if it ended at present, however there might be modifications and groups not included within the bracket that also have probabilities to earn entry into the match — as many as 21 the truth is.
From Michigan to Memphis, USC to UNLV, Nebraska to Northwestern, Washington to James Madison.
Groups on the bubble have taken on losses, however not sufficient losses for them to not crawl into the highest quarter of their convention, and, with 10 and even simply 9 wins within the common season, might discover themselves into an computerized qualifier spot.
Each recreation issues. Rivalry video games matter extra.
Nobody in Columbus, Ohio, must be reminded that the Buckeyes haven’t received “The Sport” since 2019, and a win for a Michigan workforce who has received eight video games heading into “The Sport” this season might virtually actually imply the Wolverines can be within the CFP.
Texas A&M, which hasn’t received a convention title this century or a nationwide title since 1939, must stare down their arch nemesis, Texas, with what may very well be a spot within the SEC Championship on the road for the Aggies, and a spot within the CFP for the Longhorns.
Good, Outdated-Usual Hate. The rivalry between Georgia Tech and Georgia this 12 months makes it conceivable {that a} loss to the Yellow Jackets might see the Dawgs overlooked of the playoff for the primary time in three years.
Minnesota might need to go away little doubt with a win towards Wisconsin within the longest-running rivalry within the sport’s historical past to safe not only a 10-win season, however a spot within the CFP to go alongside the Paul Bunyan Axe.
The 24-team CFP takes on the very best elements of the November rivalry: house and away video games performed on campuses throughout the nation the place ambiance, emotion and pageantry are unmatched.
RJ Young is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities. Comply with him @RJ_Young.
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