Bowl Predictions 2016: Projections for College Football Playoff

Although we aren't even halfway through the 2016 regular season, there is already plenty of separation forming at the top of the rankings.

It won't necessarily take an undefeated record to reach the College Football Playoff, but teams without a loss are certainly in much better shape than those with one. If these squads continue to live up to expectations, it won't be too tough to find four elite teams to fill the national semifinals.

While obviously a lot can and will change in the next couple of months, here is an early prediction for the four teams that will be battling for a national title.

1. Clemson

Tyler Smith/Getty Images

After close wins over Auburn and Troy to start the year, it made sense to question Clemson's ability to beat the best teams in the nation. However, it showed it can pull out those same close wins against an elite opponent like Louisville with a 42-36 battle last weekend.

Head coach Dabo Swinney summed it up, per Brett McMurphy of ESPN:

This Clemson team has the will power necessary to earn wins, regardless of the opponent. Deshaun Watson hasn't been perfect this year, but he is still one of the most talented players in all of college football and leads an offense that is tough to stop when it is working.

Meanwhile, the defense has plenty of playmakers who can help the team get stops. After experiencing the highest level of football a year ago, this squad has everything it needs to get back to the championship game.

Perhaps most importantly, the Tigers' toughest game is behind them. A road battle against Florida State isn't ever easy, but the Seminoles aren't as good as initially anticipated. Few games in the ACC will even represent realistic challenges for the rest of the regular season.

The ACC Championship Game would most likely be a difficult matchup, but after beating Louisville, Clemson has what it takes to defeat anyone. Considering the Tigers haven't lost to an unranked team since 2011, the odds are they will stay undefeated and grab a spot in the playoffs.

2. Michigan

Leon Halip/Getty Images

A lot can happen in between—especially if Michigan State has anything to say about it—but Michigan and Ohio State fans are already dreaming of a late-season matchup with both teams coming in undefeated.

Bill Connelly of SB Nation actually noted the likelihood of one of these teams being undefeated heading into the conference championships:

With the Buckeyes hosting this year's rivalry game and absolutely killing people to this point, they are clearly the favorites. Of course, things don't always go as predicted.

Ohio State still has a lot of youth on its defense, while its offense hasn't faced strong opposition all year. J.T. Barrett has performed well this season, but it will be a bigger challenge when his receivers are covered, and he doesn't have as much room to run.

Michigan has the defensive talent necessary to contain Ohio State's high-powered attack. Jabrill Peppers and company have rare speed that will allow them to stick with the Buckeyes everywhere on the field, ensuring a relatively low-scoring battle.

If Wolverines quarterback Wilton Speight can avoid mistakes, they can pull out an upset road win and eventually move onto the College Football Playoffs in Jim Harbaugh's second season with the team.

3. Alabama

The drop in rankings is based on the guess Alabama will lose at some point this season. The SEC features too many quality opponents, including a difficult upcoming stretch of Arkansas on the road, Tennessee on the road, Texas A&M at home and LSU on the road.

Even if the Crimson Tide are the most talented team in college football, winning all of those games is a difficult task.

On the other hand, Alabama is good enough to win the majority of its games going forward. With a loaded defense that features an almost unstoppable rotation of defensive linemen, few teams will be able to move the football consistently.

Jalen Hurts still has question marks as a freshman starter at quarterback, but he is dynamic enough to create big plays each game. With a dominant rushing attack behind him, the Tide have all the tools necessary to win every week.

One loss won't be enough to sink this team, especially if it can pull out a win over Texas A&M at home. Alabama can go onto win the SEC title and secure a spot in the national semifinals.

From there, the Tide could once again be the favorites to win it all. 

4. Houston

Bob Levey/Getty Images

This will likely be the biggest debate of the college football season as the year progresses.

If Houston remains undefeated, will the American Athletic Conference team make it in the top four over a one-loss team from a Power Five conference. There will likely be plenty of one-loss contenders from the Big Ten, SEC or ACC, all of which would have quite an argument for inclusion.

On the other hand, the Cougars aren't just a normal small school trying to play with the big boys.

A 33-23 season-opening win over Oklahoma proved Houston has the ability to play at a high level. The team continued at this level by scoring over 40 points in each of the next four games.

There is also another chance for the team to showcase its ability with a November prime-time matchup against Louisville. A win in that game would give the Cougars a good enough resume to contend with just about any other team in the nation.

Even the Pac-12 and Big 12 conference champions likely won't be able to argue against the nonconference wins, which the committee looks at fondly.

If Houston can run the table this season, it deserves a chance to compete for a national title.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter.