In the proposed 24 team College, there are 41 teams that can reach the national championship. Football Playoff model gaining the most traction around the sport.It’s not that Ohio State, Indiana or Texas A&M get a bye week and a home game. It’s that Florida, Oklahoma and even Wake Forest still have a path to the national title with a 24-team College Football Playoff.While this sounds absurd for a team that is 3-4, Florida still has games against the No. Georgia, Mississippi State. Kentucky. Ole Miss is ranked No. 14 Tennessee, Florida State. If the Gators run the table, there’s still a chaotic chance they will make the CFP as one of the four best teams in the SEC or as an at-large selection, because that résumé and strength of record would be so strong.In August, the Big Ten and others began “populating” the idea of an expanded College Football Playoff of 28 or 24 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 makeWhich begs the question: How would the 24-team CFP look if the tournament began today? In my analysis of a 24-team format, 41 Power 4 programs — including 10 from the SEC, eight from the Big Ten, six from the Big 12, seven from the ACC, and 10 Group of 6 teams and Notre Dame — would still have a path to the postseason.Heading into Week 10 of the season, teams that have proven themselves in conference play still have just as much opportunity to win it all as No. 1 Ohio State. That’s a huge win for the sport. Scoreboards have more power. And fans have the best chance in the sport’s history to see their team play for — and win — a national title.Here’s how it works: This 24-team format features 18 automatic qualifiersI’ve set it up to look like what you’ll read below and stand in to represent the College Football Playoff selection panel. The top four teams in each Power 4 conference, based on their standings within the conferences, qualify automatically for the CFP. The two highest-ranked Group of 6 teams — not necessarily conference champions — also receive automatic bids. The remaining six at-large spots are filled at the selection committee’s discretion.Teams are seeded by the selection committeeAs the personification of the selection committee, I am encouraged to take into account head-to-head matchups, strength of record, coaching, personnel and quality of out-of-conference play when seeding teams.Winning a conference championship is a strong indicator for a top-seeded team.Winning a conference title does not automatically qualify a team for a higher seed than a non-conference champion.The 24-team playoff’s greatest strength is the addition of two rounds of home gamesMy top 25, which you can read here, is the basis on which these seedings are assigned.The first two rounds of a 24-team playoff would feature two rounds of home games. The four teams that advance through the opening rounds will play their next game at a New Year’s Six Bowl in a neutral site semifinal. Teams with No. Teams ranked No. Get a bye game and play at home in the playoffs. Teams ranked no. The teams ranked No. The 16 teams will each begin their tournaments with a playoff game at home. Teams with seeds No. The teams seeded No. 24 each must play on the road twice to advance to the neutral site quarterfinals.I need to summarize this, because it’s the best aspect of the 24-team CFP: 16 different campuses host home playoff games. Here is the Week 10 CFP bracket for 24 teams: FIRST-ROUND BYE; SECOND ROUND HOME GAME1. Ohio State (7-1-1)The Buckeyes allow 5.9 PPG in seven games. This is not only the FBS’s lowest average, but also the Buckeyes’ lowest point per game since 1973. 2. Indiana (8-0). The Hoosiers have two wins over AP top-10 teams. The Hoosiers are ranked in the top four of the FBS for point differential (276), average points per game (45.4), points allowed per match (10.9) and sacks (30). Texas A&M (8-0)The Aggies are the only undefeated FBS team with five games of 40-plus points. They’re also one of three unbeaten teams to have beaten multiple ranked opponents.4. Alabama (7-1)The Crimson Tide recorded four consecutive wins against ranked SEC opponents — a feat that has only happened twice in AP Poll history. Their eight-point victory over South Carolina was their largest comeback victory since 2021.5. Oregon (7-1-1)Oregon and Indiana are the only two FBS teams who average more than 40 points per game, while allowing no more than 15. Texas Tech is also one of these three FBS squads. Georgia (6-1), Kirby Smart’s squad is 6-1, with two wins in the top-15 over Tennessee and Ole Miss. Since 2021, Georgia is 59–6, the highest winning percentage of any FBS team, and won national titles in both 2021 and 2022. 7. Ole Miss (7-1 )Ole Miss ranks among the top 10 Power Four teams in yards/game (484.3), as well as in big plays (85). The Rebels rank among the top five teams in scrimmage runs of at least 25 yards, 30 yards and 40+ yard. Vanderbilt (7-1 at-large). Vanderbilt is the only team to have ever beaten three top-10 teams in the same year. The AP Poll’s 9th ranking is the highest since 1937. Commodores is also one of the three FBS teams that have won three games over ranked opposition, along Alabama and Miami. Tennessee (6-2, at-large) Losses to Alabama and Georgia might turn out to be losses to two teams who will play for the SEC Championship. The Vols don’t have a win in the top 25, but they could get two of them with Oklahoma and Vanderbilt still on their schedule. BYU (6-0) The Cougars have the most clear path to the College Football Playoff of any team from the Big 12; they will be rewarded by a home game. Georgia Tech (8-0)The highest-ranked ACC team is also the last undefeated team in the conference, and the only ranked opponent left on the Yellow Jackets’ schedule is their traditional out-of-conference rival, Georgia. Given the way the season has played out, it’s possible Georgia Tech ends the regular season with 11 wins against teams that won’t finish in the top 25 when the postseason begins.12. Louisville (7-1)The Cardinals’ win on the road at then-No. Miami has the most wins of any team in ACC. Their only loss was to a Top-25 opponent that required double overtime (Virginia). Miami (7-1 overall) The Hurricanes lost at home to an unranked team while ranked no. However, Louisville is now 7-1. However, Louisville is now 7-1.If Miami avoids another loss against an unranked team, the Canes will finish the regular season 11–1, with no ranked opponents remaining on their schedule as of now. What is the concern? Their best wins might end up being against South Florida and SMU — not exactly elite competition.14. Notre Dame (5-2, at-large)The Fighting Irish’s résumé took a hit when Louisville walked into Hard Rock Stadium and beat a Miami team that Notre Dame couldn’t — in the same venue. But their loss to Texas A&M doesn’t look as bad now, with the Aggies off to a 7–0 start for the first time since 1994. Notre Dame’s best win came against USC, and it could face an undefeated Navy in two weeks. The Irish could slide into the at-large position with this win, plus a 10-win season. 15. Missouri (6-2, at-large)Losing quarterback Beau Pribula hasn’t made Missouri’s loss to Vanderbilt any easier for fans to swallow. The defense and rushing offense are still strong as demonstrated by their one-score loss in Week 9.16. Texas (6-2) Texas needed to come back in overtime for the second time in a week against a middling SEC squad. For the third straight week, an SEC team has made the mistake of kicking to Ryan Niblett, the nation’s best punt returner. Texas has an advantage that no other team can match. Texas Tech (7-1), TexasThe Red Raiders, one of only five undefeated teams in the Big 12, suffered a loss last week. However, the Red Raiders bounced back to win a dominant victory over Oklahoma State the following week. Joey McGuire’s squad is heading for a clash with BYU (8-0) in Week 11. But they now have to do without not just one, but two starting QBs. Will Hammond tore his ACL, leaving Mitch Griffis as the team’s healthiest scholarship QB.18. Memphis (7-1)at MissouriThe Tigers are the best in Group 6, but after losing to a terrible UAB team, they have to prove that. They’ll get that chance with games against Tulane in Week 11 and Navy in Week 13, which could help them retain this spot.19. Michigan (6-2)at Notre DameThe Wolverines have losses to USC and Oklahoma, but since both teams are still in contention for the CFP, Michigan’s case for an at-large spot is stronger. And there’s still Ohio State to play.20. Cincinnati (7-1-1) at MiamiCincinnati may become the first program to qualify for the CFP with a G6 or P4 status if its current trend continues. The Bearcats are undefeated in Big 12 games and have a chance to prove they are the best team of the league with the remaining matches against Utah and BYU. 21. Houston (7-1-1)at LouisvilleThe Cougars occupied the Arizona State spot with their victory over the Sun Devils the past weekend. Houston can now finish fourth or higher in the Big 12. And they don’t play a team in the top three of the standings for the rest of the season.22. Virginia (7-1-1) at Georgia TechThe Cavaliers hope for a soft finish to the season and transitive victories. Their best victory is over Louisville, and they don’t face another ranked opponent the rest of the way. That means UVA wouldn’t have to see Georgia Tech or Miami until the postseason, even if it needed overtime to defeat three of its last four opponents.23. Navy (7-0), BYUTThe Midshipmen could be all but assured of their AQ slot with victories over North Texas, Notre Dame, South Florida and Memphis. The Midshipmen have the only undefeated record in the Group Of 6 conferences. Pitt (6-2). After losing consecutive games to West Virginia and Louisville, Pat Narduzzi’s team has quietly racked up four straight victories, including two road wins against Florida State and Syracuse. Mason Heintschel, the Panthers’ freshman quarterback, has been the driving force behind the Panthers’ offense. The team is averaging over 41.5 points a game during its winning streak. The CFP will look different if today’s season ended. There are still teams that can qualify for the tournament, even if they are not in the bracket. Each game is important. Rivalry games matter more.No one in Columbus, Ohio, needs to be reminded that the Buckeyes haven’t won “The Game” since 2019, and a win for a Michigan team that has won eight games heading into “The Game” this season could almost certainly mean the Wolverines would be in the CFP.Texas A&M, which hasn’t won a conference title this century or a national title since 1939, will have to stare down their arch nemesis, Texas, with what could be a spot in the SEC Championship on the line for the Aggies, and a spot in the CFP for the Longhorns. Good, Old-Fashioned Hate. Good, Old-Fashioned Hate. Want to get great stories sent straight to your mailbox? Follow him on Twitter @RJ_Young. To receive daily personalized emails, create or log into your FOX account. You can follow teams, leagues and players.
2025-10-28 18:40:44
RJ Young’s 24-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Entering Week 10
