A total of 13 different schools have reached the semi-finals in the last eight seasons of the College Football Playoffs. No school has attended more than Alabama (7) and no conference has qualified more than the SEC (10).
(Insert yawn here.)
Alabama, Clemson (6), Ohio (4) and Oklahoma (4) dominated the four-team field, but Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Florida also reached the biggest stage in the sport. is often forgotten.
And of course, undefeated Cincinnati gave hope to people everywhere last season. After Bearcats, he ranks the four teams, in order of most probabilities, in the top four for the first time.
Preseason FPI: No. 12
Practical reasons: The Aggies have everything they need to succeed at the highest level: financial resources, a passionate fan base, an elite recruiting class, and a seasoned head coach. In addition, we are confident of winning against Alabama last year. They also impressed selection committees (in October he made a road trip to his SEC opponents for the third time in a row) and some easy wins (Sam Houston, Appalachian State, and UMass). have a well-balanced schedule to earn If the Aggies can beat Miami and their SEC opponents, the Commission will ignore those gimmicks his game. In the past four seasons, Jimbo Fisher has landed in the top seven recruiting classes, including this year’s No. 1 national group. At some point, that talent should translate into his CFP look.
Occurs only when: Despite losing coordinator Mike Elko to the Duke, the defense is able to maintain its success and the Aggies are able to find a healthy and consistent winner at quarterback. Allowed the third-lowest yards per shot (334). They allowed 15.9 points per game. This is the third-lowest number of points on FBS, behind Georgia and Clemson. Former Ole Miss defensive coordinator DJ Durkin was hired to replace Elko.Offensively, Fisher has quarterback competition Haynes King and LSU transfer Max Johnson.
ESPN’s FPI said: The Aggies have at least a 50% chance of winning every game except Mississippi, Alabama and Auburn.
Allstate Playoff Predictor says: The Aggies have a 1.9% chance of making the playoffs.
Coach Speak: “[Last year’s win against Alabama] It gives me confidence that I know my abilities. But what this league challenges you is what I try to tell them every day, every game is a big game. Once you’ve won those games and shown what you can do, you need to finish. And that was a shame I thought last year… it didn’t end. But there’s a lot you can grow from there. Last year we had some slump with inexperienced players, but I think having to face them this year will be an advantage. — Fisher
Preseason FPI: No. 13
Practical reasons: The defending Pac-12 champions will make their first Rose Bowl appearance in school history, returning 14 starters from their 10-win team.starting quarterback cameron rising Coming back with five of his top six pass catchers, running back. Tabion Thomas, finished with 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns. With both USC and Oregon under his new coach, Utah’s Kyle his Whittingham has an edge in experience. He has won his three Pac-12 South titles in the last four seasons.
Occurs only when: Utah can win on the road. Utah lost the season opener in Florida and could finish in the top four. The Pac-12 title could make up for a tough road loss in the season opener. In that case. Especially if Lincoln Riley can up his USC quickly, they need to beat the Gators to create a cushion in league play. Starting in Gainesville, Utah has a total of six road games, including a particularly difficult road trip at UCLA on October 8th, a Thursday night game at Washington State on October 27th, and a night game on November 19th. night games in Oregon. Utah lost a historic season last year as he failed to win his game at BYU, San Diego State and Oregon State.
ESPN’s FPI said: Utah has at least a 50% chance of winning every game except the season opener against Florida and Oregon on November 19th.
Allstate Playoff Predictor says: Utah has a 6.3% chance of reaching the CFP.
Coach Speak: “I think we are still fighting [respect] in a way. We are still a program working on our brand and trying to increase our national presence but you have to earn it – no one is going to give you that Every time you have a chance to prove it, on national television, in bowl games, in situations like that, you have to work your way up in that regard. Are we where we want to be?Not yet.” — Whittingham
Preseason FPI: No. 35
Practical reasons: Riley quickly assembled a roster that oozed championship-class talent.He made good use of transfer portals beyond headlines Caleb Williams, with a total of 13 players added so far.Offense upgraded with former Oregon running back Travis Dyewith the receiver mario williams, Brenden Rice When Terrell BynumCaleb Williams has no shortage of options around him and Riley has previous experience leading the program to the playoffs.
Occurs only when: USC can avoid going 0-2 against Utah and rival Notre Dame. (Assuming, of course, that the Trojans won every other game.) USC can afford to lose to Utah and finish in the top four. each other in a conference championship game. If they beat Pac-12 and lost to a ranked Notre Dame team, USC should be in the top four as well. However, if you drop both of those games, the Trojan continues to be an afterthought in playoff conversation.
ESPN’s FPI said: USC has less than a 50% chance of beating both Utah and Notre Dame, but the Trojan horse has more to worry about. In addition to those two opponents, FPI gives UCLA the edge on his Nov. 19, and he has a 54.3% chance of winning the game.
Allstate Playoff Predictor says: USC has a less than 0.1% chance of making the playoffs, trailing 29 other teams with at least a 1% chance.
Coach Speak: “You don’t come to USC, you don’t come to L.A. to do small things. You have to set big goals. I don’t think so.” [the expectations are] too much. I don’t I believe in what we do. I believe what we teach. I believe in the people out there. Obviously, it will continue to evolve over the years. I didn’t come here I am not here to do this in the short term. In some respects, it has the long game in mind. The people that brought us here, the staff that brought us here, we didn’t just come here to play. We are not wired that way. We came here competitively to win championships, to keep winning now and to keep winning for a long time. That’s always our expectation. — Riley
Preseason FPI: No. 14
Practical reasons: The Cowboys have a more favorable schedule than Texas (facing Alabama) and Baylor (BYU, Iowa, on the road to tough trips to West Virginia). In non-conference games against Central Michigan, Arizona State, and Arkansas Pine Bluff (three games with Oklahoma State backing at least 80%, according to ESPN’s FPI), the Cowboys will face Baylor on Oct. 1. It should be 3-0 towards . They also have home field advantage against the Longhorns on Oct. 22 and will go undefeated heading into that game on ESPN’s FPI Project. Unlike Baylor, Oklahoma will also end the season with a home field advantage against West Virginia.
Occurs only when: quarterback Spencer Sanders Staying healthy, cutting interceptions, and despite key departures including coordinator Jim Knowles, the Cowboys are able to continue to improve on defense. Planned to be the first quarterback to start. Since 2019, he has turned the ball over his 40th (31 interceptions, 9 fumbles) and has scored more turns than any player at FBS. In the Big 12 Championship Game loss to Baylor, he threw a career-high four interceptions. The defense was one of the best in FBS and school history, but Knowles left and the Cowboys returned with the third-lowest returning FBS experience in defense, according to ESPN’s Statistics Survey.
ESPN’s FPI said: Oklahoma State has the advantage in each game except against Texas on October 22 (53.1% for the Longhorns) and against Oklahoma on November 19 (Sooners win 63.9%).
Allstate Playoff Predictor says: The Cowboys are 12th most likely to reach the playoffs with 4% and Texas are 6th most likely to reach the playoffs with 18%.
Coach Speak: “We have the foundation. Teams need to make commitments. Coaches don’t play the game, the team plays. Our responsibility is to guide them. Their responsibility is to It’s about coming together as a group and creating an identity.It’s necessary.What’s important to them.And then go hang out.That’s where we’re going in the next few weeks.” — Gandhi
