One Conference Projected To Account For Nearly Half Of College Football Playoff

The College Football Playoff is changing its format for the 2024 season. Instead of the four-team format fans have come to know, the playoff will include 12 teams.

Last season's playoff had the Michigan Wolverines, Texas Longhorns, Washington Huskies, and Alabama Crimson Tide. Michigan and Washington met in the championship, with the Wolverines taking home the title.

Andy Staples of On3 Sports had a prediction for the SEC regarding the playoff. He predicted that the SEC would have five teams make it in the inaugural season of the 12-team format.

One of the biggest reasons Staples made the prediction was the schedules of specific SEC teams. Teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs have more demanding schedules, but Staples believed they could handle them.

"...The SEC’s schedule draw is the biggest reason for this prediction. Alabama and Georgia got tougher conference schedules, but they’re also talented enough to handle them," Staples said. "Texas and Ole Miss appear to have CFP-caliber rosters and fairly manageable schedules."

Staples is also monitoring the Tennessee Volunteers, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, and LSU Tigers as teams that could make the playoffs.

"Missouri and Tennessee may not be perfect, but they’re going to be good and they fared well in the schedule draw," Staples said. "Oklahoma and LSU are Oklahoma and LSU; they’re almost always a threat to win double-digit games. That’s a lot of legitimate contenders, and it’s entirely reasonable that five-eighths of that group could finish in the top 11."

The first playoff round will be from Dec. 20-21, followed by the quarterfinals from Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 2025. The semifinals are set to be played from Jan. 9-10, 2025, with the national championship on Jan. 20, 2025.

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