CFP predictions: Who’s most likely to make the playoff field?
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ESPN staffAug 29, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
After his team’s shocking 24-21 loss to unranked Georgia Tech in the season opener, Florida State coach Mike Norvell said the Seminoles “can’t let this one game define what the outcome of our season will be.”
FSU can still reach the 12-team College Football Playoff if it wins the ACC — the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the new format — or it can earn one of the seven at-large bids. The reality, though, is that the Noles’ 0-1 start has already affected postseason predictions.
Florida State isn’t in some of them anymore.
So, who is (besides Georgia and Ohio State)?
Our postseason picks are in, and with a new 12-team format, the door has opened for more contenders — and more debates. According to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, Florida State entered the season with a 36% chance to reach the playoff. That dropped to 13% after the Week 0 loss to Georgia Tech.
How many teams will represent the ACC in the 12-team field now? SEC? Big Ten? Big 12? Who is the best Group of 5 contender?
It depends who you ask …
Andrea Adelson
Playoff field: Georgia, Ohio State, Kansas State, Miami, Memphis, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Clemson, Alabama, Oregon, LSU, Penn State
Semifinalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss
Finalists: Georgia, Ohio State
Champion: Ohio State
Kyle Bonagura
Playoff field: Alabama, Arizona, Boise State, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Utah
Semifinalists: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon
Finalists: Georgia, Ohio State
Champion: Georgia
Bill Connelly
Playoff field: Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Notre Dame, Alabama, Michigan, Missouri, Memphis
Semifinalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Penn State
Finalists: Georgia, Ohio State
Champion: Georgia
Heather Dinich
Playoff field: Georgia, Ohio State, Miami, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Alabama, Clemson, Penn State, Boise State
Semifinalists: Texas, Oregon, Georgia, Ohio State
Finalists: Georgia, Ohio State
Champion: Georgia
David Hale
Playoff field: Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Kansas, Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Alabama, Miami, Utah, Memphis
Semifinalists: Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson, Notre Dame
Finalists: Ohio State, Georgia
Champion: Ohio State
Eli Lederman
Playoff field: Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Kansas State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Ole Miss, Alabama, Missouri, Miami, Memphis
Semifinalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame
Finalists: Georgia, Oregon
Champion: Oregon
Ryan McGee
Playoff field: Georgia, Ohio State, NC State, Oklahoma State, Liberty, Oregon, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Missouri, Alabama, Clemson, Kansas
Semifinalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Ole Miss
Finalists: Georgia, Ohio State
Champion: Georgia
Max Olson
Playoff field: Georgia, Ohio State, Miami, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Texas, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Alabama, Penn State, Utah, Memphis
Semifinalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas
Finalists: Georgia, Ohio State
Champion: Georgia
Chris Low
Playoff field: Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Utah, Oregon, Michigan, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Penn State, UNLV
Semifinalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Ole Miss
Finalists: Georgia, Ohio State
Champion: Ohio State
Harry Lyles
Playoff field: Georgia, Oregon, Utah, Clemson, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Penn State, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Memphis
Semifinalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Oregon
Finalists: Georgia, Oregon
Champion: Georgia
Adam Rittenberg
Playoff field: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Memphis, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas, Utah
Semifinalists: Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame
Finalists: Ohio State, Texas
Champion: Ohio State
Mark Schlabach
Playoff field: Ohio State, Georgia, Miami, Utah, Oregon, Texas, Penn State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, Ole Miss, Memphis
Semifinalists: Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Texas
Finalists: Ohio State, Georgia
Champion: Georgia
Jake Trotter
Playoff field: Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Miami, Notre Dame, Boise State
Semifinalists: Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Texas
Finalists: Ohio State, Georgia
Champion: Ohio State
Paolo Uggetti
Playoff field: Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Notre Dame, Alabama, Kansas, Penn State, Clemson, Miami, Boise State
Semifinalists: Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Notre Dame
Finalists: Georgia, Oregon
Champion: Georgia
Dave Wilson
Playoff field: Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Texas, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Alabama, Michigan, Clemson, Boise State
Semifinalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Oklahoma State
Finalists: Georgia, Ohio State
Champion: Georgia