Truth be told, the College Football Playoffs began August 24th in Dublin, Ireland where Florida State and Georgia Tech got the 2024 season underway.
Tuesday’s first release of rankings by the CFP Selection Committee only gave us an official glimpse of how the expanded postseason might look, as well as keep social media accounts busy with something other than politics to talk about.
Then again, politics go on behind the scenes with the committee, chaired by Michigan AD Warde Manuel this year. From now through the conference championships in early December, there are going to be elimination games that will have huge consequences at top sportsbooks.
Boise State & Army Fight for 5th Conference Slot
Spencer Danielson and Boise State have been one of the best stories all season, with their only loss to top-ranked Oregon in Eugene where the Ducks had to rally to avoid the upset, and they have earned to be slotted as the 5th-highest ranked conference leader at this point.
The Broncos also still have Heisman contender Ashton Jeanty making headlines, which doesn’t hurt their cause. They’ll still have to win out to stay above the rest of the conference leaders outside of the Power 4, and they’re still well back on the NCAAF futures to go all the way.
Army is even further back on the list at No. 25 and the Black Knights have a couple of tough tests to close the campaign against Notre Dame and Navy, not to mention a potential AAC Championship Game prior to the traditional season-ender with the Midshipmen. An Army win over the Fighting Irish would have a rippling effect throughout the 12-team bracket.
Who Will Be Big 12’s Lone Rep?
What a job Kalani Sitake has done in Provo with a BYU team the oddsmakers listed 4½-5 in win totals wagering and picked to finish well back in the pack of the Big 12.
The Broncos have answered the bell all eight games this season, but still have a couple of crucial games left before reaching the Big 12 Championship. The first is Week 11 on the road at Utah against a Utes team hungry for an upset during what has been a hugely disappointing season.
If the Broncos can win out, they will more than deserve a No. 4 seed – and something higher than the present No. 9 ranking – and 1st-round bye in the CFP regardless of how far behind the Big 12 is lagging among the Power 4 conferences.
Is it Time to Pony Up in ACC?
As hard as it may be to believe, the ACC could be another Power 4 conference that winds up with just one entry into the expanded playoffs. Mario Cristobal has the Miami Hurricanes stationed to be that one team, should that hold true.
There were a lot of things the experts got wrong about the ACC, beginning with Florida State being the betting favorite. It’s difficult to believe Mike Norvell still resides in Tallahassee following a 1-8 record to this point.
Clemson is still in the hunt, but Dabo Sweeney’s squad shot itself in the foot with a home loss to Louisville in Week 10. The Tigers now need help to get to the conference title game.
Miami was listed right there in a tight race with FSU and Clemson in preseason polls, with Virginia Tech and NC State also getting some love on the futures odds.
Lurking well back in the shadows on that list was SMU, and the Mustangs have become a chic pick with the one tough loss to BYU their only blemish so far. Southern Methodist has a favorable remaining schedule to finish with an unbeaten mark in the gargantuan 17-team ACC, and that could be enough for Rhett Lashlee’s lads to slip into the CFP along with Miami.
Big Ten & SEC Claim 4 Spots Each
It shouldn’t have come as any surprise to see the Big Ten and SEC dominate the initial 12-team bracket. The selection committee gave their nods to four teams from each conference, but while they may both get four in at the end, it likely won’t be the same four as now.
One game that could change things takes place this weekend in Baton Rouge where No. 11 Alabama is a 3-point road favorite on the NCAAF odds against No. 15 LSU. Both teams have two losses, and a third would be fatal to their playoff chances.
Top-ranked Oregon still has a road trip to Wisconsin on the slate, never an easy place to win, and No. 2 Ohio State has a matchup with No. 8 Indiana that could shake up the CFP bracket.
Another contest with huge CFP implications takes place at the end of the month in College Station where No. 14 Texas A&M hosts No. 5 Texas in a renewal of their longtime rivalry.
