The Tailgators College Football Playoff 12
John, Brian and Gary put together their version of the College Football Playoff
In 2024 the College Football Playoff will introduce a 12-team playoff bracket, expanding from the previous four-team format.
The 12-team College Football Playoff field will include the five highest-ranked conference champions, which will receive automatic bids. The remaining seven highest-ranked teams will round out the 12-team format. The playoff must also include one team from the Group of 5.
The top four ranked teams receive a bye into the quarterfinals. Conference champions in BOLD.
The SEC imploded this weekend. Upsets by John’s Florida Gators, the Oklahoma Sooners, and the Auburn Tigers created three more 3-loss SEC teams in Ole Miss, Alabama and Texas A&M.
We also saw two previously undefeated teams lose, with Indiana falling 38-15 to Ohio St. and Army falling 49-14 to Notre Dame.
Below are our CFP Top 12 with the first-round playoff match-ups:
Brian’s Top 12
Oregon 11-0 (Big Ten-1)
Texas 10-1 (SEC-1)
Ohio State 10-1 (Big Ten-2)
Boise State 10-1 (Mountain West-1)
SMU 9-1 (ACC-1)
Penn State 10-1 (Big Ten-3)
Miami 9-1 (ACC-3)
Notre Dame 9-1 (FBS Independent)
Georgia 8-2 (SEC-2)
Indiana 10-1 (Big Ten-4)
Tennessee 9-2 (SEC-3)
Arizona State 9-2 (Big XII-1)
First Round Schedule: December 20-21
Byes: Oregon, Texas, Boise State and SMU
No. 12 Arizona State at No. 3 Ohio State
No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Penn State
No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Miami
No. 9 Georgia at No. 8 Notre Dame
Notes: The ACC’s Clemson (9-2) is Brian’s next team in. Three teams from the south and southwest would need to travel to the Midwest for first-round playoff games.
John’s Top 12
Oregon 11-0 (Big Ten Champion)
Texas 10-1 (SEC Champion)
Ohio State 10-1 (Big Ten)
Penn State 10-1 (Big Ten)
Boise State 10-1 (Mountain West Champion)
Miami 10-1 (ACC Champion)
Notre Dame 10-1 (FBS Independent)
Georgia 9-2 (SEC)
Tennessee 9-2 (SEC)
Indiana 10-1 (Big Ten)
Arizona State 9-2 (Big 12 Champion)
SMU 9-1 (ACC)
First Round Schedule: December 20-21
Byes: Oregon, Texas, Boise State, Miami
No. 12 SMU at No. 5 Ohio State
No. 11 Arizona State at No. 6 Penn State
No. Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Georgia
Notes: Tulane is in a sneaky spot in that if Boise State or someone slips up they can beat Army and win the AAC and could earn that 12th spot at the table.
Gary’s Top 12
Oregon 11-0 (Big Ten Champion)
Texas 10-1 (SEC Champion)
SMU 10-1 (ACC Champion)
Arizona State 9-2 (Big XII Champion)
Penn State 10-1 (Big Ten)
Boise State 10-1 (Mountain West Champion)
Miami 10-1 (ACC)
Clemson 9-0 (ACC)
Tennessee 9-2 (SEC)
Indiana 10-1 (Big Ten)
Notre Dame 10-1 (FBS Independent)
Army 9-1 (FBS Independent)
First Round Schedule: December 20-21
Byes: Oregon, Texas, SMU and Arizona State
No. 12 Army at No. 5 Penn State
No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 6 Boise State
No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Miami
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Clemson
Notes: Ohio St. (10-1), including a win against previously undefeated Indiana, still does not make Gary’s Top 12.
Come on Gary - why not the Buckeyes? They've got wins over Indiana and Penn State. That alone is a better resume than most of the teams here. But if it's just OSU hate, I respect that decision fully