College Football Playoff Predictions: Potential First Round Matchup Between Ohio State and Georgia

Now that the 2024 school soccer common season has come to a detailed and convention championship weekend has arrived, it is vital to spotlight a lesson we have all realized this 12 months:

The surprising flip will likely be anticipated sooner or later.

Indiana gained 11 video games this season after profitable simply 9 the earlier three years. Arizona State gained 10 video games after going 3-9 final season. Colorado completed 9-3 after going 4-8 in 2023.

We realized that any group may be crushed, besides Oregon. The Ducks are the one group in your complete nation with an opportunity to turn out to be the sixth group within the CFP period to prime the rankings and the second group west of the Mississippi River.

We’ve realized that becoming a member of a brand new convention will not preserve you from taking part in within the convention title sport. SMU, Oregon and Texas all made their respective convention title video games in Year 1 as new members and every has a transparent path to profitable the nationwide title. This is just not equality. It’s volatility and it is the brand new regular.

Welcome to the brand new world the place the 12-team CFP is signed for the primary time on Sunday.

That stated, listed below are my up to date CFP projections:

1. Oregon
Conference: Big Ten
Documentation: 12-0

2. Texas
Conference: SEC
Documentation: 11-1

3. SMU
Conference: ACC
Documentation: 11-1

4. State of Arizona
Conference: Big 12
Documentation: 10-2

5. Our Lady
Conference: Independent
Documentation: 11-1

6. Pen State
Conference: Big Ten
Documentation: 11-1

7. Indiana
Conference: Big Ten
Documentation: 11-1

8. Georgia
Conference: SEC
Documentation: 10-2

9. Ohio State
Conference: Big Ten
Documentation: 10-2

10. Tennessee
Conference: SEC
Documentation: 10-2

11. Alabama
Conference: SEC
Documentation: 9-3

12. Boise State
Conference: West Mountain
Documentation: 11-1

QUARTER-FINALS MATCHES

1.Oregon: Bye (the winner of 8. Georgia vs. 9. Ohio State would then play)

2. Texas: Bye (the winner of seven. Indiana in opposition to 10. Tennessee would then play)

3. SMEs: Hi (I might then play in opposition to the winner of 6. Penn State vs. 11. Alabama)

4. Arizona State: Bye (the winner of 5. Notre Dame vs. 12. Boise State would then play)

FIRST ROUND MATCHES

5. Notre Dame vs. 12. Boise State

Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos would head to South Bend within the first house playoff sport in FBS historical past. Jeanty is within the midst of the most effective seasons ever by a operating again, chasing Barry Sanders’ single-season speeding document. Jeanty carried the ball 312 occasions for two,288 yards in 2024. Sanders carried the ball 344 occasions for two,628 yards in 1988. He gained the Heisman. Derrick Henry carried the ball 395 occasions for two,219 yards in 2015. He gained the Heisman.

Boise State operating again Ashton Jeanty has carried the ball 312 occasions for two,288 yards and 28 touchdowns this season. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)

6. Penn State vs. 11. Alabama

The final time Alabama performed a Big Ten group, it put up 42 in opposition to Wisconsin and allowed simply 10 factors. While this Penn State group is a greater opponent, Alabama has crushed a top-five group this 12 months and the Nittany Lions have solely finished so as soon as of their final 13 alternatives. They’ll get one other likelihood so as to add to that whole this weekend in opposition to undefeated Oregon.

Jalen Milroe and the Alabama Crimson Tide completed 9-3 within the common season, together with 5-3 within the SEC. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

7. Indiana vs. 10. Tennessee

The Hoosiers are within the midst of their finest season at school historical past with 11 wins and 9 in double figures. The Vols would arrive in Bloomington with the SEC’s finest tailback in Dylan Sampson, who ran for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns this season.

Indiana has 11 wins this season, probably the most in program historical past in a single season. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

8. Georgia vs. 9. Ohio State

A rematch of the 2022 Peach Bowl, diminished to a missed discipline purpose that allowed Georgia to punch its ticket to the nationwide title sport and win its second nationwide championship in as a few years.

Georgia presents a entrance seven that would trigger OSU the identical issues as Michigan. But the Buckeyes are probably the most proficient group within the nation on the hideout, with freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith making an attempt to cause them to their first nationwide title since 2014.

Ryan Day is the primary Ohio State coach to lose 4 straight video games to Michigan since John Cooper from 1988 to 1991. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

RJ Young is a nationwide school soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports and host of “The Number One College Football Show” podcast. Follow him to @RJ_Young.

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