Pete Thamel Predicts Which Group of Five Team Will Make College Football Playoff

ESPN college football analysts Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sat down recently for a chat about all things CFB and gave some love to the Group of Five by examining Thamel's pick to make the playoff out of those leagues.

With the new 12-team College Football Playoff format comes historic representation for the little guy. For the first time ever, in 2024, a Group of Five school will be guaranteed a chance to play for the national title in the postseason.

Move over, Cincinnati, because there's set to be a new smaller-conference squad make the playoff for the first time. Thamel predicts...

"I am placing Boise State as the 12th seed," he told Davis. "They bring back the core of their offensive line. Ashton Jeanty is a top-three running back in college football, the NFL views him that way."

That offense is set up well with those returners, but how about the defense and brand-new coaching staff?

"Now, you have a new full-time head coach in Spencer Danielson," Thamel continued. "There's a solid defense that returns. I have a lot of faith in Dirk Koetter, who was a brilliant hire at OC. That guy has been an NFL head coach, he's been the Boise head coach, he's been the Arizona State head coach."

Thamel went on, noting that Koetter could be a perfect coach to pair with the talent in the QB room.

"He's an elite developer of quarterbacks," said Thamel. "Whether that's Malachi Nelson or not, we'll find out here. That is certainly where the stars would lead us. But I don't think it's fait accompli yet either that it's going to be him."

Thamel is in an Olympic mood with that French, but he's also all in on the Mountain West contender from southwest Idaho.

"So I like Boise a lot," he added. "I feel like the pieces are there and the schedule is there for them to go and and and carry the momentum that they carried at the end of last season after they fired Andy Avalos."

The momentum has been strong ever since Danielson came aboard.

"Spencer Danielson gave that place like a real true adrenaline shot," said Thamel "I'm excited to see what they can do, there's a lot of talent returning, it's a good roster."

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