8-Team Playoff Based on 2013 College Football Recruiting Classes

Many college football fans are flat out anti-BCS. They don't like a computer playing such a big role in determining who plays for the national championship, and the standings process is too complicated.

Therefore, a college football playoff has been introduced and will be the new format in only a few seasons from now. Here on the recruiting side of things, we're not going to wait. We're going to conduct an eight-team college football recruiting class playoff, today!

So come inside and let's see who will win the college football recruiting eight-team playoff.

No. 1 USC vs. No. 8 Auburn

USC has the top seed because they have the No. 1 recruiting class on my board. The Trojans have just 17 commitments, but 16 of them are ESPNU 300. The class has a stud QB in Max Browne, and S Su'a Cravens and DT Kenny Bigelow are also among the nation's best at their positions.

Auburn is the eighth seed, and even though they have had a poor season, the Tigers have still recruited well this cycle. LB Reuben Foster, DE Carl Lawson and DT Carl Liner lead a 17-commit class with eight ESPNU 300 members.

Winner: USC

No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 7 Texas

'Bama, the defending recruiting champion from last year, has earned a No. 2 seed this year. The Crimson Tide are strong again this cycle thanks to a class with 20 commitments and 14 inside the ESPNU 300. QB Cooper Bateman, TE O.J. Howard, DE DeMarcus Walker and a trio of good RBs lead this class.

Texas has a small class of only 15 prospects, but 11 of them belong to the ESPNU 300. That's excellent quality, and OL Darius Morris, OL Jake Raulerson and LB Deoundrei Davis are sure to be studs.

Texas may have fewer commitments, but I love the class' quality. I smell an upset here.

Winner: Texas

No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 6 Notre Dame

The Wolverines have 23 commitments and stormed out of the gate to open this year. They have a great class going, and 14 of their incoming players are among the best 300 in the country, says ESPNU 300. QB Shane Morris is the class headliner, but the OL and DB groups are also terrific.

Notre Dame is the new No. 1 team in the country on the field, and the Irish have a top 10 class off of it. The folks in South Bend boast 22 pledges, 11 of them being ESPNU 300 members. OLB Jaylon Smith is the headliner, and ND also has a great OL class too.

Winner: Michigan

No. 4 Florida vs. No. 5 Ohio State

The Urban Meyer bowl takes place here, and Florida is the higher seed. The Gators are now led by Will Muschamp, and he has gotten 20 pledges this year, 13 of which are ESPNU 300 prospects. CB Vernon Hargreaves is the best CB in the country, and RB Kelvin Taylor, DT Caleb Brantley, WR Ahmad Fulwood and LB Daniel McMillan are studs.

Meyer is at Ohio State these days, and he's recruiting fine. He has 17 commitments and 11 ESPNU 300 prospects. ATH Jalin Marshall may be a Percy Harvin clone, DT Joey Bosa is solid, and CB Eli Woodard is not far behind Hargreaves at all.

Winner: Florida

Semifinals: No. 1 USC vs. No. 7 Texas

Our first semifinal matchup is a rematch of the 2006 Rose Bowl and BCS title game. USC once again comes into a matchup versus Texas as the favorite.

Looking at the Trojans' 17 commitments, they have five commitments in the top 50 of the ESPNU 300. Texas has just one. USC has 11 commitments in the ESPNU 150. Texas has just seven.

Both of these classes are small but of terrific quality, yet it appears the Trojans have a superior class when matched up against the Longhorns.

Winner: USC

Semifinals: No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 4 Florida

The Gators and Wolverines got it on a few years ago at the Capital One Bowl. The Gators will be looking to avenge their 41-35 loss, and they have a good shot to do so.

Michigan has 10 commitments that are among the top 150 prospects, per ESPNU. The Gators have nine ESPN 150 commitments. Florida has 20 commitments, and Michigan has 23.

In a squeaker, Michigan gets by for having more commitments and more ESPN 150 prospects than Florida does. Another deciding factor is that Michigan has a 5-star QB prospect in their class, which is always an extra bonus.

This is an epic nail biter from start to finish.

Winner: Michigan

National Recruiting Championship Final: No. 1 USC vs. No. 3 Michigan

USC has 11 ESPNU 150 commitments, while Michigan has 10. USC has just 17 commitments, while Michigan has 23.

Each class boasts a 5-star QB prospect. Michigan has no top 50 ESPNU commitments, while USC has five. The Trojans have 10 top 100 commitments per ESPNU and Michigan has five.

Michigan's class has more depth and is superior at the OL unit. USC has a better DB class, DL class and WR class, but overall lacks Michigan's numbers.

Looking hard at each collection of talent and quality, even though the class is smaller, USC has a better assembly of talent.

The Trojans win the eight-team national recruiting championship.

Winner: USC

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects and writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (formerly ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.