It might take a 24-team playoff to do what a century of bad blood couldn’t — send the Red River Rivalry packing from Dallas to Norman, Oklahoma.
Texas and Oklahoma have made not just a habit but a tradition of playing their annual rivalry game in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl. But in a 24-team CFP, Texas would be forced to face the Sooners on the road.
That would mean Oklahoma becomes one of 16 teams not only capable of hosting a home playoff game, but capable of drawing the Longhorns north of the Red River for the first time since 1922.
I’m salivating at the idea, especially in a year like this one, where Texas’ chances of making the 12-team CFP are done — cooked — and OU’s opportunity to return to the playoff for the first time since 2019 hangs by a Missouri thread. This is exactly the kind of matchup this expanded format was designed to deliver: history being made, on the biggest stage, with the stakes as high as they can get.
In August, the Big Ten and others began “populating” the idea of an expanded College Football Playoff of 24 or 28 teams. The 24-team model, which seems to have the most support in private circles, would include:
- Four automatic qualifiers from each of the Power 4 conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC)
- Two automatic qualifiers from the Group of 6 (American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt and Pac-12)
- Six at-large selections to be made by the College Football Playoff selection committee — the only selections the committee gets to make
Which begs the query: How would the 24-team CFP look if the event started at this time?
In my evaluation of a 24-team format, 35 Energy 4 packages — together with 10 from the Huge Ten, 9 from the SEC, eight from the Huge 12 and eight from the ACC — would nonetheless have a path to the postseason. And that’s earlier than factoring in Notre Dame or the Group of 6 contenders.
Heading into Week 13 of the season, groups which have confirmed themselves in convention play nonetheless have simply as a lot alternative to win all of it as No. 1 Ohio State. That’s an enormous win for the game. It creates a extra democratic system for figuring out the very best crew, with much less debate and extra certainty.
The scoreboard has extra company.
And followers have the very best likelihood within the sport’s historical past to see their crew play for — and win — a nationwide title.
This is the way it works:
This 24-team format options 18 automated qualifiers
I’ve set it as much as appear to be what you’ll learn beneath and stand in to signify the Faculty Soccer Playoff choice committee.
The highest 4 groups from every of the Energy 4 conferences, primarily based on convention standings, routinely qualify for the CFP. The 2 highest-ranked Group of 6 groups — not essentially convention champions — additionally obtain automated bids. The remaining six at-large spots are crammed on the choice committee’s discretion.
Groups are seeded by the choice committee
Because the personification of the choice committee, I’m inspired to take note of head-to-head matchups, power of document, teaching, personnel and high quality of out-of-conference play when seeding groups.
Profitable a convention championship is a robust indicator for a top-seeded crew.
Profitable a convention title doesn’t routinely qualify a crew for the next seed than a non-conference champion.
The 24-team playoff’s best power is the addition of two rounds of residence video games
My prime 25, which you’ll be able to learn right here, is the idea on which these seedings are assigned.
The primary two rounds of a 24-team playoff would characteristic two rounds of residence video games. The 4 groups that advance by the opening rounds will play their subsequent recreation at a New 12 months’s Six Bowl in a impartial web site semifinal.
Groups seeded No. 1 to No. 8 get a bye and a house playoff recreation. Groups seeded No. 9 to No. 16 every open the event with a house playoff recreation. Groups seeded No. 17 to No. 24 every should play on the highway twice to advance to the impartial web site quarterfinals.
I have to summarize this, as a result of it’s the very best facet of the 24-team CFP: 16 completely different campuses host residence playoff video games.
With that, here’s a take a look at the Week 13 24-team CFP bracket:
FIRST-ROUND BYE, SECOND-ROUND HOME GAME
1. Ohio State (10-0), Huge Ten
Ohio State is the one FBS crew holding opponents to lower than 10 factors per recreation (7.5). The Buckeyes have allowed 75 factors on the season, 50 fewer than the following closest crew.
2. Indiana (11-0), Huge Ten
The Hoosiers have a degree differential of +215 in convention video games, the one FBS crew to have a degree differential of over 200 towards convention opponents.
3. Texas A&M (10-0), SEC
The Aggies accomplished the biggest comeback in program historical past towards South Carolina (27 factors). Coming into Saturday, SEC groups have been 0-286 when trailing by 27-plus factors in convention play.
4. Georgia (9-1), SEC, Beforehand Ranked: 6
Since Week 8, Georgia ranks eighth amongst all energy convention groups in scoring at 35.8 factors per recreation.
5. Oregon (9-1), Huge Ten
The Geese are considered one of simply three FBS groups to common over 39 factors per recreation and permit fewer than 14 factors per recreation, together with Indiana and Texas Tech.
6. Ole Miss (10-1), SEC, Beforehand Ranked 7
If the Rebels win the Egg Bowl, they are going to be 7-1 in SEC play for simply the second time since 2000. Ole Miss additionally ranks first amongst FBS groups in whole offense with 5,432 yards.
7. Oklahoma (8-2), At-Massive, SEC, Beforehand Ranked: 11
The Sooners are considered one of two FBS groups with 4 wins vs. ranked opponents, with the opposite one being Alabama — whom they defeated this previous week.
8. Texas Tech (10-1), Huge 12
Texas Tech is the one crew within the nation to rank within the prime 5 amongst FBS groups in takeaways (24) and massive performs (121). Huge performs: rushes of 10-plus yards and receptions of 20-plus yards
FIRST-ROUND HOME GAME
9. BYU (9-1), Huge 12
The Cougars may be the second-best crew within the Huge 12. With the 4 greatest groups within the league every routinely qualifying for the 24-team CFP, they’d be a shoo-in. Nevertheless, the 12-team CFP won’t have room for multiple Huge 12 crew. It didn’t final yr, and two losses — particularly in the event that they’re each to Texas Tech — ought to disqualify BYU from a chance to play for its first nationwide title since 1984.
10. Texas (7-3), Huge 12, At-Massive
There’s no means the Longhorns make a 12-team CFP at this level. With three losses, together with two in SEC competitors, there’s no actual path for them to make the event as an at-large crew. However on this format, wins towards Arkansas and Texas A&M would virtually actually see them by.
11. Notre Dame (8-2), Unbiased, At-Massive, Beforehand Ranked: 12
The Combating Irish look match to return to the nationwide championship recreation if their type towards Pitt and Navy is any indication. Notre Dame doesn’t play for a convention title, and that would assist the Irish climb into the elite tier if others forward of them falter.
12. Alabama (8-2), SEC, Beforehand Ranked: 4
Like Texas, a nine-win Alabama isn’t getting an invite to a 12-team CFP. It doesn’t matter that Ty Simpson is among the greatest quarterbacks within the nation, or that the Crimson Tide’s receiving corps and scoring protection have been distinctive this season. In a 24-team CFP, although, a two-point loss to Oklahoma crew isn’t a nail coffin nail — it’s simply one other information level. The Tide would nonetheless have an opportunity to play their means into the event with wins to shut out the season.
13. Vanderbilt (8-2), SEC, At-Massive
The Commodores won’t have the résumé to make the CFP, whilst a 10-win crew. However that shouldn’t be the explanation we miss out on seeing Heisman candidate Diego Pavia on the game’s greatest stage. In a 24-team format, we wouldn’t.
14. Georgia Tech (9-1), ACC
I’m simply unsure the Yellow Jackets are nice anymore. After getting thumped by NC State and narrowly coming again to defeat Boston Faculty final weekend, Georgia Tech QB Haynes King and firm have loads to show. And so they’ll get Georgia on the schedule to shut out 2025.
15. Michigan (8-2), Huge Ten, At-Massive
The Wolverines’ whole id has been round defeating Ohio State in every of the final 4 conferences. And so they’ll have to in an effort to make the CFP. With out star RB Justice Haynes, freshman phenom Bryce Underwood can have much more work to just do to get Michigan the requisite 10 wins for consideration.
16. Utah (8-2), Huge 12, Beforehand Ranked: 17
Since dropping to Texas Tech, the Utes have scored 42 factors or extra in each recreation they’ve performed besides their loss to BYU. Even so, the third-best crew within the Huge 12 has little likelihood of constructing a 12-team CFP. In a 24-team format, although, the Utes develop into precisely the type of postseason crew nobody desires to face — a harmful squad enjoying its greatest soccer on the proper time.
ON THE ROAD
17. Virginia (9-2), ACC, Beforehand Ranked: 18
at Utah
The Cavaliers might want to win the ACC Championship to make their first CFP this season, however after taking 9 of their first 11 video games — and matching the 11 whole wins from Tony Elliott’s first three years — “Why not Virginia?” looks like a battle cry with actual benefit.
18. Miami (Fla.) (8-2), ACC, At-Massive Bid, Beforehand Ranked: NR
at Michigan
The Hurricanes would have you ever consider the ACC is each bit as robust to win because the SEC or Huge Ten. The choice committee clearly disagrees — and its Week 12 rankings made that apparent. However in a 24-team format, the committee’s opinion wouldn’t matter practically as a lot, as a result of Miami continues to be one of many 4 greatest groups in its Energy 4 convention.
19. USC (8-2), Huge Ten
at Georgia Tech
The Trojans will want a large win over Oregon in Autzen this weekend to maintain their hopes of constructing their first journey to the CFP alive.
20. North Texas (9-1), Group Of 6
at Vanderbilt
The Imply Inexperienced have the most explosive and high-scoring offenses within the nation with 45.3 factors per recreation.
21. Navy (8-2), Group of 6, Beforehand Ranked: NR
at Alabama
No academy has ever carried out what the Midshipmen may do: Make the CFP and do it with a convention title in tow.
22. Houston (8-2), Huge 12, Beforehand Ranked: NR
at Notre Dame
Houston hasn’t been adequate to contend for a nationwide title since Heisman-winning QB Andre Ware commanded the offense in 1989. That would change with a CFP bid. And whereas it’s unlikely in 2025, a 24-team playoff would give Houston a postseason path — and an actual shot on the nationwide title.
23. Pittsburgh (7-3), Huge 12, Beforehand Ranked: 16
at Texas
The Panthers have a soccer legacy that’s usually neglected — from Heisman winner Tony Dorsett to Johnny Majors main Pitt to the nationwide title in 1976. Given the expertise this system has produced since — from Dan Marino to Larry Fitzgerald to Aaron Donald — it could be thrilling to see Pat Narduzzi put Pitt again able to succeed in these heights once more.
24. SMU (7-3), ACC, Beforehand Ranked: 23
at BYU
The Mustangs have been ACC killers since they joined the convention. They’re 13-1 towards ACC opponents since 2024.
Above is how the CFP would look if it ended at this time, however there will likely be modifications and groups not included within the bracket that also have an opportunity to earn entry into the event.
Groups on the bubble have taken on losses, however not sufficient losses for them to not crawl into the highest quarter of their convention, and, with 10 and even simply 9 wins within the common season, may discover themselves into an automated qualifier spot.
Each recreation issues. Rivalry video games matter extra.
Nobody in Columbus, Ohio, must be reminded that the Buckeyes haven’t gained “The Sport” since 2019, and a win for a Michigan crew that has gained eight video games heading into “The Sport” this season may virtually actually imply the Wolverines can be within the CFP.
Texas A&M, which hasn’t gained a convention title this century or a nationwide title since 1939, must stare down their arch nemesis, Texas, with what may very well be a spot within the SEC Championship on the road for the Aggies, and a spot within the CFP for the Longhorns.
Good, Previous-Customary Hate. The rivalry between Georgia Tech and Georgia this yr makes it conceivable {that a} loss to the Yellow Jackets may see the Dawgs omitted of the CFP for the primary time in three years.
The 24-team CFP takes on the very best facets of the November rivalry: residence and away video games performed on campuses throughout the nation the place environment, emotion and pageantry are unmatched.
RJ Younger is a nationwide school soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities. Observe him @RJ_Young.
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