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.
This past week saw two upsets inside the AP Top 10, with No. 3 Miami falling to unranked Georgia Tech, and No. 3 Georgia losing to No. 16 Ole Miss. No. 11 Alabama, already with 2 losses, all but eliminated No. 15 LSU, which now has 3 losses.
In this week’s latest AP Top 25 poll, Alabama moved up to No. 9, Ole Miss jumped to No. 10, while Georgia fell to No. 11, followed by No. 12 Miami, currently the highest ranked ACC team.
With three weeks left, it’s anyone’s guess who makes the final 12. Below are our own CFP Top 12:
Brian’s Top 12
Oregon 10-0 (Big Ten Champion)
Indiana 10-0 (Big Ten)
Texas 8-1 (SEC Champion)
Ohio State 9-1 (Big Ten)
BYU 9-0 (Big XII Champion)
Tennessee 7-1 (SEC)
Boise State 7-1 (Mountain West Champion)
Penn State 8-1 (Big Ten)
SMU 8-1 (ACC Champion)
Miami 9-1 (ACC)
Army 9-0 (American Athletic Champion)
Notre Dame 8-1 (Independent)
First Round Schedule: December 20-21
Byes: Oregon, Texas, BYU and Boise State
No. 12 Notre Dame at No. 2 Indiana
No. 11 Army at No. 4 Ohio State
No. 10 Miami at No. 6 Tennessee
No. 9 SMU at No. 8 Penn State
Notes: An All-Indiana match-up (Notre Dame-Indiana), and an historic battle between Ohio State and Army. Not including 2-loss Alabama.
John’s Top 12
Oregon 10-0 (Big Ten Champion)
Texas 8-1 (SEC Champion)
Ohio State 8-1 (Big Ten)
Penn State 8-1 (Big Ten)
Tennessee 8-1 (SEC)
Alabama 7-2 (SEC)
Boise State 8-1 (Mountain West Champion)
Miami 9-1 (ACC Champion)
Notre Dame 8-1 (Independent)
Indiana 10-0 (Big Ten)
Army 9-0 (AAC Champion)
Colorado 7-2 (Big 12 Champion)
First Round Schedule: December 20-21
Byes: Oregon, Texas, Boise State, Miami
No. 12 Colorado at No. 5 Ohio State
No. 11 Army at No. 6 Penn State
No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Tennessee
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Alabama
Notes: Not including 2-loss Georgia.
Gary’s Top 12
Oregon 10-0 (Big Ten Champion)
Texas 8-1 (SEC Champion)
BYU 9-0 (Big XII Champion)
Miami 9-1 (ACC Champion)
Penn State 8-1 (Big Ten)
Boise State 8-1 (Mountain West Champion)
SMU 8-1 (ACC)
Texas A&M 7-2 (SEC)
Indiana 10-0 (Big Ten)
Alabama 7-2 (SEC)
Notre Dame 8-1 (FBS Independent)
Army 9-0 (American Athletic Champion)
First Round Schedule: December 20-21
Byes: Oregon, Texas, BYU and Miami.
No. 12 Army at No. 5 Penn State
No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 6 Boise State
No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 SMU
No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Texas A&M
Notes: Not including 1-loss Ohio State.
I'm not sure I'm prepared to live in a world where Indiana is a playoff team.