One game each week that will impact College Football Playoff

The four-team iteration of the College Football Playoff lasted 10 years, but it never seemed adequate for a sport with more than 130 schools in the top division. So beginning with this season, the CFP will expand to 12 teams, making regular-season games even more important.

Here's how the playoff will work: The four highest-ranked conference champions will receive automatic bids while the CFP selection committee's eight highest-ranked teams remaining will round out the 12-team format. In addition, the top four teams will receive a first-round bye.

Here's one game each week that should significantly impact the CFP:

Week 0 | Florida State vs. Georgia Tech | Aug. 24

The 'Noles were left out of the playoff despite a 13-0 record last season. This season, they're picked to win the ACC while Georgia Tech is picked to finish in the lower half of the conference.

These two will kick off the season in Dublin, Ireland, and if last season showed anything, it's that teams outside of the SEC and Big Ten don't have much room for error. An expanded playoff helps, but Florida State must take care of business.

Week 1 | Notre Dame at Texas A&M | Aug. 31

Notre Dame is in an interesting position with the expanded playoff. The Irish can't be higher than a five seed because the top four seeds go to conference champions. (Notre Dame is a member of the ACC in all sports except football and hockey.) Can a two-loss Notre Dame get into the playoff? It would depend on who the losses came against.

In a loaded SEC, Texas A&M may be a sleeper pick to get into the playoffs. First-year head coach Mike Elko's bunch can make a big statement with a win over Notre Dame at Kyle Field.

Week 2 | Texas at Michigan | Sept. 7

Two heavyweights in an on-campus non-conference showdown? Yes, please . Both teams aim to win their conference and get a bye, but the loser will have a long road ahead of it.

Week 3 | Alabama at Wisconsin | Sept. 14

The Badgers, who went 7-6 and lost to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl last season, aim to take a step forward in Luke Fickell's second season as head coach. They will enter the year on the outside looking in for the playoff, but a massive game against Alabama could set the stage for a surprise run. The Badgers don't play Michigan or Ohio State, and Oregon and Penn State play at Madison.

Week 4 | North Carolina State at Clemson | Sept. 21

N.C. State, a dark-horse contender to win the ACC, doesn't play Florida State or Miami, so this game has major implications for the Wolfpack. N.C. State has won at least eight games in six of the past seven seasons and defeated Clemson last year.

For Clemson, the pressure is on HC Dabo Swinney to regain the program's form of 2015-19, when it won 14, 14, 12, 15 and 14 games and two national titles. QB Cade Klubnik and the Tigers must overcome a tough N.C. State defense.

Week 5 | Liberty at Appalachian State | Sept. 28

It's a good bet that one of these teams makes noise in the CFP. Whoever wins this game will be in the driver's seat to represent the Group of Five in the CFP.

Week 6 | Clemson at Florida State | Oct. 5

The top two teams in the ACC will square off in Tallahassee. Conference divisions are a thing of the past, so these two could play again in the conference championship game. The winner will most likely be favored to get the automatic bid and bye.

Week 7 | Ole Miss at LSU | Oct. 12

Ole Miss is a trendy preseason pick to make noise in the SEC and perhaps the CFP. Playing at Tiger Stadium for a night game is never easy. This game is the start of a tough four-game stretch for Ole Miss, which plays against Oklahoma, Arkansas and Georgia in the following weeks.

Week 8 | Georgia at Texas | Oct. 19

It seems to be a three-team race for the top of the SEC between these two and Alabama. Only two will have the opportunity to play for the first-round bye, so this game has massive implications for the SEC's conference champion.

Week 9 | Missouri at Alabama | Oct. 26

Mizzou is another SEC team that's a dark-horse contender to win the conference title. This is the biggest test for the Tigers. Do they have to be perfect to make the CFP? Probably not, but they can't afford two losses.

Week 10 | Oregon at Michigan and Ohio State at Penn State | Nov. 2

All eyes are on the Big Ten in Week 10. Both of these matchups will have major implications on who plays for the conference championship. It's realistic that all four teams could be in the playoff, but this weekend will most likely determine who has a chance for the automatic bid and bye.

Week 11 | Florida State at Notre Dame | Nov. 9

At this point in the season, Notre Dame is either undefeated or has a loss at Texas A&M on its resume. If they have a loss, this game becomes extremely important for the Irish to get in. For Florida State, it's a big matchup two weeks after a game at conference rival Miami.

Week 12 | Utah at Colorado | Nov. 16

This is a big "if," but if Deion Sanders and Colorado string together wins and are in the hunt for the Big 12 Championship Game, this one will be electric. Utah, the trendy pick to win the Big 12 in its first season in the league, figures to be near the top of the standings, which could mean a rocking Folsom Field with the Buffaloes' season hanging in the balance.

Week 13 | Arizona at TCU | Nov. 23

Some writers project Arizona, which has moved from the Pac-12 to the Big 12, as a CFP team. This late-season road game at TCU is the final test for the 'Cats.

Week 14 | Michigan at Ohio State | Nov. 30

The Big Ten is deep enough that the loser of this game could be out of the running for a top-four seed. Instead, they will be forced to play a first-round game. Bragging rights will be on the line and so might Ohio State head coach Ryan Day's job .