Biggest Questions Heading into the 2024 CFB Playoff Selection Day
The games have been played. The results are all in.
College football's first-ever 12-team playoff is ready for liftoff, although the final bracket still needs to be unveiled. While many of the teams have been penciled in, drama remains. Chaos looms.
The selection committee, which shocked much of the world with its omission of Florida State last year, has a big decision to make and many other rankings to unveil.
With the answers coming soon enough, we're ready to answer the looming uncertainty that exists. Here's a look at both the questions and answers surrounding the College Football Playoff before the bracket is unveiled.
So, Is It SMU or Alabama?
1 of 5
At the core of the College Football Playoff drama is one simple question. Will two-loss SMU still get into the playoff despite losing to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game? Or will Alabama, which was No. 11 in the rankings last week, get the nod?
The answer will likely depend on the person on the other side of this question. For the College Football Playoff selection committee, it truly depends on what they value.
SMU entered the week at No. 8 in the CFP rankings. Alabama was idle.
While the Mustangs fell behind Clemson early—and a blowout seemed to be taking shape—they ultimately battled back. The Tigers ended up kicking a game-winning field goal to seal their playoff fate, although the score certainly matters.
A blowout could have been very bad for SMU. A close loss less so.
So, back to that question. What does the committee ultimately do?
While the conversation will be fascinating, SMU will find its way into the playoff. The final score, which was close, will be the deciding factor. With that said, this feels far from a given. If you wanted some drama in this new format, you some.
The Four Teams with First-Round Byes Are...
2 of 5
How different is this new playoff format? Look no further than this portion.
The four conference champions ranked highest by the selection committee will earn a bye in the first round. Given the number of games that will be played in the next six weeks, this is a critical piece of the puzzle.
While there is drama to be found in the rankings and even the teams, this one is clear. The four teams with byes are as follows: Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State.
Oregon and Georgia will come in as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, while Boise State, thanks to Clemson's upset over SMU in the ACC Championship, will be No. 3. That upset will also allow Arizona State—yes, Arizona State, winners of the Big 12—to sit out the first weekend.
While the final rankings will have some movement, this is all but decided. Whether you believe this is the right way to crown a champion or not won't matter this year.
Where Will Texas Rank?
3 of 5
The Longhorns are a fascinating team for the committee to digest.
On one hand, Texas is coming off a hard-fought loss in the SEC, a league ripe with teams ranked inside the top 20. On the other hand, another loss to Georgia complicates this team's playoff resume.
The best win came last week at Texas A&M, and it's a solid win. The rest of the resume, however, is somewhat questionable. After that, it gets iffy. Oklahoma? Vanderbilt? Michigan?
In short, there isn't a ton there. Two losses to Georgia help the strength of schedule, although those losses can only carry them so far.
Still, Texas entered the week as the No. 2 team. The committee clearly values this team and its path, and that won't change drastically now. While the Longhorns won't earn a bye after losing to the Bulldogs, they should still host a playoff game.
So, back to the original question, where will they land?
Texas won't be greatly penalized for playing an extra game against a team the committee likes quite a bit. Whether you like the resume or not, Texas won't move much.
Next stop: Austin.
It's not a bye, but it will do.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Is There a Dominant Team in This Playoff?
4 of 5
Maybe?
Let's go with maybe.
First and foremost, let's give Oregon the respect it deserves. If there is a dominant team this season, it's unquestionably the Ducks.
In its first year in the Big Ten, Oregon beat Ohio State earlier in the year and Penn State in the conference championship on Saturday night. The Ducks also delivered a close win over Boise State, a playoff team, earlier in the year.
They have a quarterback, they have elite skill position players, and they have future stars on both sides of the ball. The offense is an absolute force, and it was on display against the Nittany Lions this weekend.
If you want to say that Oregon is a dominant team, it's hard to argue against. At the same time, in this new expanded format, the race for the national championship feels wide open, even now.
Oregon has earned the right to be the favorite. The Ducks are the team to beat. But plenty of teams likely believe they truly have a shot, and they might not be wrong.
Did the Expanded College Football Playoff Take Away from the Regular Season?
5 of 5
Absolutely not.
In fact, one could argue it greatly enhanced it. Arizona State, one of the doormats of college football a few seasons ago, is in the playoff. Indiana, a school largely recognized for its basketball prowess, is postseason bound.
More teams were in striking distance. More games mattered. And the drama surrounding conference championships, with playoff spots up for grabs, was a welcomed change to a weekend that has lacked drama.
The last two months have been nothing short of remarkable. Sure, the way that byes are decided needs some tweaking, and we'll see exactly how home playoff games look and feel in the coming weeks.
But the new, expanded format didn't make the games matter less, even if some programs' playoff fates were already decided heading into the week. It made it matter more for all parties, especially those who watched the madness unfold all season long.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
