With the College Football Playoff just around the corner, teams are ramping up their efforts to secure a coveted spot in the 12-team postseason playoff. This past Sunday, ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach shared their updated predictions for the 2024 playoff and bowl projections, and the excitement is palpable!
Understanding the New Playoff Format
This year, the playoff format has expanded, allowing the five highest-ranked conference champions to earn automatic bids. Among these champions, the top four teams will receive first-round byes. The remaining eight teams will battle it out in the first round, with the No. 5 through No. 8 seeds hosting home games. Following these matchups, the four winners will advance to face the top four seeds in the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal and semifinal games will be held as part of the traditional New Year’s Six bowl games, culminating in the national championship on January 20.
Predictions for the First Round
As the playoff picture begins to take shape, Bonagura and Schlabach have differing views on several matchups. For instance, Bonagura predicts a showdown between No. 12 BYU and No. 5 Ohio State, while Schlabach sees No. 12 Boise State facing off against the Buckeyes. Bonagura’s switch from Boise State to BYU reflects a shift in confidence, especially after the Cougars’ narrow 17-13 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks. Despite this setback, Bonagura believes BYU still has a shot at the CFP.
Big Ten Showdown
When it comes to the No. 6 seed, both analysts expect a Big Ten representative, but they disagree on which team will claim that spot. Bonagura favors the Penn State Nittany Lions, whose only loss this season came against a formidable Ohio State team. On the other hand, Schlabach is backing the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers, who are set to face Ohio State this weekend. Will Indiana maintain their perfect record, or will they stumble against the Buckeyes?
SEC Drama Unfolds
In the SEC, Bonagura predicts No. 10 Ole Miss to face No. 7 Indiana, while Schlabach sees No. 10 Georgia squaring off against Indiana. The SEC has been notoriously unpredictable this season, and both analysts acknowledge that two-loss teams will be left anxiously waiting for the selection committee’s decisions in December. Georgia recently secured a vital win over Tennessee, but Ole Miss holds the head-to-head victory over them, adding to the playoff intrigue.
Alabama’s Standing
As for Alabama, Bonagura has them at No. 9 facing No. 8 Notre Dame, while Schlabach ranks Alabama slightly higher at No. 9 against Ole Miss. Both analysts agree that the Crimson Tide are likely to make the CFP, thanks to impressive victories over teams like Georgia, LSU, and Missouri. With two games left against subpar opponents, Alabama has a golden opportunity to solidify their standing.
Quarterfinal Matchups
Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, Bonagura and Schlabach have both predicted a matchup between No. 5 Ohio State and No. 4 Boise State, with Schlabach also suggesting that Colorado could rise to the top of the Big 12 standings. This would be a remarkable turnaround for Colorado, who finished last season with a disappointing 4-8 record. Currently sitting at 8-2, the Buffaloes are making waves and could potentially usurp BYU for the top spot.
In the Peach Bowl, Bonagura sees No. 11 Georgia facing No. 3 Miami, while Schlabach predicts No. 11 Notre Dame will take on the Hurricanes. Miami, coming off a bye week, is looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season to Georgia Tech. However, both analysts are cautious about Miami’s consistency, noting their tendency to win games in nail-biting fashion.
Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl Predictions
In the Rose Bowl, Bonagura and Schlabach agree on a thrilling matchup between No. 9 Alabama and No. 1 Oregon. This clash of titans would surely be a must-watch event, especially given the history between head coaches Kalen DeBoer and Dan Lanning. While both analysts lean towards Oregon advancing, the excitement of this potential matchup is undeniable.
Meanwhile, in the Cotton Bowl, both experts predict a rematch between No. 5 Ohio State and No. 1 Oregon. Their previous encounter was a nail-biter, with Oregon narrowly escaping with a 32-31 victory. If Ohio State can secure a win in this rematch, it would be monumental for head coach Ryan Day‘s legacy.
National Championship Outlook
As we look to the national championship, both Bonagura and Schlabach have Oregon facing off against Indiana or Georgia. While neither analyst has named a champion, the Ducks are the only team both have selected to reach the title game. The unpredictability of this season has kept fans on the edge of their seats, and it’s clear that anything can happen in college football.
As the playoff picture continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the excitement of college football is at an all-time high. With every game, the stakes are raised, and the drama unfolds. Who will rise to the occasion and secure their place in history? Only time will tell!
