The college football world is gearing up for a monumental shift this fall with the debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd has already released his post-spring top 25 rankings, offering fans a first glimpse at how the new playoff format may unfold.
While post-spring rankings are just a preliminary look and won’t capture all the nuances of the season, they do provide an early idea of how teams may be seeded in the playoff. In this new system, rankings are not the same as seedings, with the No. 3 team entering as the No. 5 seed.
Boise State has emerged as the top Group of Five champion in the rankings, while traditional powerhouses like LSU and Michigan are projected to miss the playoff field despite finishing in the top 10.
The first round matchups are set to take place at home sites in Eugene, Austin, Tuscaloosa, and Oxford. Georgia is projected to face Ole Miss or Missouri in the Sugar Bowl, while Ohio State would play Alabama or Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl.
Utah, Clemson, and Boise State are also projected to advance in the playoff based on their rankings. The semifinals are predicted to feature Georgia vs. Oregon in the Orange Bowl and Ohio State vs. Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
Ultimately, the National Championship game is projected to showcase Georgia against Ohio State in Atlanta. The new playoff format promises to bring new challenges and potential surprises to the upcoming college football season, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle blows.
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