The landscape of college football has drastically changed over the last year alone. College football, as we know it, is not the same. First, it was the BCS Championship, where the two highest seeds just played one another in the championship. Then, it was a four-team playoff. Now, it's the 12-team playoffs , which we will see for the first time this season.
The playoff field now includes the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP Selection Committee. This shift from the previous format ensures that conference champions have a significant advantage, but also allows for at-large bids for teams that perform exceptionally well but do not win their conference. So, for example, for the teams that were left out last year like undefeated Florida State and dominant Georgia, they will get in.
The top four seeds, which are the highest-ranked conference champions, receive a first-round bye. This means they advance directly to the quarterfinals. Seeds five through twelve play in the first round, with the higher seed hosting the game, either at their home field or another designated site.
The one thing you may have glossed over is that a fifth highest-ranked conference champion also gets a bid, guaranteeing a spot for the Group of 5 teams. Everyone has their own predictions of who will make it, and most say Boise State, App State, or others, but UNLV is a team that is being slept on. One star receiver is guaranteeing they will make it.
"We'll be there. That's all I'm going to say," UNLV wide receiver Ricky White said.
The Rebels are entering their second season under head coach Barry Odom, known for his defensive background, who has brought in Brennan Marion as offensive coordinator, whose innovative "Go-Go" offense significantly improved UNLV's performance.
The Rebels could very well run the table this season based on what they did last season, and their promise coming into this season. The team has seen the departure of key players like quarterback Jayden Maiava, but the recruitment and development of new talent, like Matthew Sluka from Holy Cross and Hajj-Malik Williams from Campbell, is showing they could replace what they have lost.
There's an emphasis on improving the defense, which was a point of concern last season. The addition of players like Tony Grimes and Jalen Catalon, along with the coaching adjustments, aims to make the defense more formidable, potentially reducing the number of explosive plays against them.
With 11 out of 12 regular season games on national television, UNLV is under the spotlight. This is sure to help them be seen as a wrecking all during the season, and if things go well, make it impossible for the committee to leave them out.
This UNLV team is certainly a sleeper in 2024.
Related: Former Vols QB Harrison Bailey learns his depth chart fate at UNLV
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