Once more into the breach…

Big Questions

How much longer does the 12-team playoff stick around?

Much as I appreciated last year’s playoff, it was clear that there were a few key issues. The first round was basically 4 blowouts, all four of the bye teams lost, and Alabama complained so much about being snubbed they forgot they had a bowl game to play. For the record, I thought that the committee picked the correct 12 teams (yes, even Indiana), but I am also fine with the new seeding procedures, which should hopefully eliminate a few of those aforementioned blowouts. Of course, because this is college football, not everyone (i.e. the Big Ten and SEC big wigs) is a fan of the current system. As such, the switch to a 14 or 16 team playoff seems inevitable (yay for more TV revenue!), but the details of which are still being hotly debated by a bunch of old guys who refuse to compromise. In the meantime, I suggest we all just enjoy this while it lasts. At least it’s not the BCS, right?

Can the Big Ten make it 3 in a row?

Michigan and Ohio State have broken a 4-year SEC national championship streak, but is the Big Ten renaissance a new dynasty in the making or just the benefactor of a few teams going all in at the right time? The three-peat is certainly possible, but all of the top contenders have substantial limitations to overcome. Michigan still has plenty of question marks after a rebuilding year, namely at quarterback, while Ohio State must replace most of their defensive line, as well as quarterback and running backs. Conference newcomer Oregon stormed out of the gate last year, but were unceremoniously bounced in the Rose Bowl, and, like the Buckeyes, have to replace a substantial amount of NFL talent on both sides of the ball. Penn State returns the majority of their core after a semifinal run last season, but the narratives around both Drew Allar and James Franklin exist for a reason. In any event, the SEC would jump at the chance to take advantage of this and stick a “It Just Means More” flag in the turf come late January.

Does the Big 12 produce another playoff surprise?

Arizona State surprised everyone last year, going from last place in the Big 12 preseason poll to the 12-seed in the playoff. Entering Week 14 of last season, 9 different teams had a realistic path to the playoff. Does this remarkable parity continue? Does a team like UCF or Cincinnati run the table and make a trip to Arlington in December? Whatever happens, recent history has shown that just take everything I say in the predictions section and expect the opposite to happen.

How much longer does NIL stay like this?

I won’t harp on this one too much. I’m all for big-name players finally getting some compensation from the millions in revenue that they generate for their schools, but at some point this “NIL booster free-for-all” needs to end. Someone needs to make some rules, and it’s unlikely that the NCAA has the power or means to do so at this time.

Preseason Top 25

Team	2024 Record
1. Texas Longhorns	13-3
2. Ohio State Buckeyes	14-2
3. Penn State Nittany Lions	13-3
4. Georgia Bulldogs	11-3
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish	14-2
6. Clemson Tigers	10-4
7. Oregon Ducks	13-1
8. Alabama Crimson Tide	9-4
9. Miami Hurricanes	10-3
10. South Carolina Gamecocks	9-4
11. LSU Tigers	9-4
12. Indiana Hoosiers	11-2
13. SMU Mustangs	11-3
14. Illinois Fighting Illini	10-3
15. ASU Sun Devils	11-3
16. BYU Cougars	11-2
17. Michigan Wolverines	8-5
18. Kansas State Wildcats	9-4
19. Louisville Cardinals	9-4
20. Iowa State Cyclones	11-3
21. Tennessee Volunteers	10-3
22. Boise State Broncos	12-2
23. Texas A&M Aggies	8-5
24. Missouri Tigers	10-3
25. Ole Miss Rebels	11-3
On the Bubble: JMU, USC, Memphis, UNLV, Texas Tech

Conference Predictions

SEC

Playoff Contenders: Georgia, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, LSU

Dark Horse Conference Threats: Tennessee, Ole Miss, Missouri

Bowl Teams: Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, Florida, Arkansas

Better Luck Next Year: Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi State

Championship Prediction: Texas over Georgia

Big Ten

Playoff Contenders: Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon

Dark Horse Conference Threats: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, USC

Bowl Teams: Washington, UCLA, Rutgers, Minnesota, Michigan State, Nebraska

Better Luck Next Year: Purdue, Northwestern, Maryland

Championship Prediction: Ohio State over Penn State

ACC

Playoff Contenders: Clemson, Miami, SMU

Dark Horse Conference Threats: Louisville, Syracuse, UNC, Georgia Tech

Bowl Teams: Pitt, Virginia Tech, Cal, NC State, Virginia Tech, Boston College

Better Luck Next Year: Stanford, Wake Forest, UVA

Championship Prediction: Clemson over Miami

Big 12

Playoff Contenders: Kansas State, Iowa State, Arizona State, Utah

Dark Horse Conference Threats: Texas Tech, BYU, TCU

Bowl Teams: Colorado, Kansas, Houston, Baylor, Oklahoma State

Better Luck Next Year: Houston, Arizona, UCF, Cincinnati

Championship Prediction: Kansas State over Iowa State

Group of Five

American: Tulane over Navy

Conference USA: Liberty over Sam Houston State

Sun Belt: JMU over Louisiana-Lafayette

Mountain West: UNLV over Boise State

MAC: Toledo over Ohio

College Football Playoff Predictions

1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Penn State
5. Georgia
6. Notre Dame
7. Alabama
8. Kansas State
9. Oregon
10. Illinois
11. South Carolina
12. Tulane

*Conference Champion

Final: Texas over Penn State

Heisman Trophy Top Five

1. Cade Klubnik (QB, Clemson)
2. Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU)
3. Arch Manning (QB, Texas)
4. Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio St.)
5. LaNorris Sellers (QB, South Carolina)

Honorable Mentions: Drew Allar (QB, Penn State), Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame), Ryan Williams (WR, Alabama)