20 games that will impact the College Football Playoff

What an enormous sport to open the season. One benefit of getting a 12-team playoff is that we will get nice video games like this, the place the loser has loads of time to discover a approach again into the playoff. Rewind to a few years in the past when these two met in Charlotte and the Bulldogs eeked out a 10-3 win and the 2 packages have gone their separate methods. Georgia has gained two nationwide championships and Clemson has fallen again a bit. This time, Clemson is attempting to try to point out they matter. Will they be capable of present they’re again? If Cade Klubnik can take that subsequent leap up then the Tigers may win the ACC. As for Georgia, properly, they’re a machine proper now. They have been a poor SEC title sport displaying from presumably successful a 3rd straight nationwide championship. That is what they do. 

Michigan’s successful streak might be in jeopardy as two of final yr’s Faculty Soccer Playoff groups meet in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines have had a whole lot of modifications since then, most notably Jim Harbaugh and J.J. McCarthy (amongst others) heading to the NFL. Quinn Ewers is again for the Longhorns and Steve Sarkisian is the lone Playoff head coach again with the identical program. The winner of this sport has an enormous card to play when playoff picks come round whereas the loser provides up their wiggle room of incomes an at-large berth. 

If Boise State can go into Oregon and pop the Geese, that may give them a serious card to play on the finish of the season. The Broncos’ schedule is not daunting, which supplies them a shot at changing into Mountain West champions. A win over Oregon would probably be the largest win any Group of 5 champion may have on their resume come December. May it occur? Eh. However it might be a lure sport of types because the revamped rivalry sport at Oregon State comes the next week. 

These two have just about owned the SEC during the last 20 years (sure, I see you LSU, Auburn and Florida). The 2 have mixed for 11 SEC championships during the last 15 years, assembly 4 instances within the SEC title sport and as soon as for the nationwide championship. Nationwide championships? These two have gained 7 of the final 15 of them and a minimum of one in all them have made the Faculty Soccer Playoff in 9 of its 10 seasons (each made it in the identical yr twice). For the primary time on this period, Georgia strolls into this match-up with the highest head coach. Kirby Smart is now the highest-paid championship coach whereas Alabama is breaking in ex-Washington coach Kalen DeBoer as Nick Saban’s alternative. In fact Sensible and Georgia are smarting from Alabama’s win in final yr’s SEC title sport that stored the Bulldogs out of the playoff. 

The brand new look Massive 12 is large open this yr. Each Arizona and Utah (together with Oklahoma State and Kansas State) really feel they’re the very best on this league — their new league — which makes this moderately early season tilt actually necessary. The winner of this sport must be the front-runner to nab one of many Massive 12 title spots, as neither Arizona nor Utah actually have a frightening street after this. If QB Cameron Rising can keep wholesome, this league often is the Utes to lose. Arizona will want their protection to gel early on or they might be enjoying catch-up.  

One of many neat issues in regards to the new 12-team playoff is that it ensures one of many Group of 5 champions a spot within the playoff. Solely as soon as in ten seasons has a G5 crew reached the playoff (AAC’s Cincinnati in 2021), they usually needed to be undefeated, beat Energy 5 colleges, and hope for some Energy 5 slippage. No extra. You realize longer must be good to get a playoff spot — you simply must be a convention champion and the very best of the 5. Liberty enters the yr as the favourite to nab a type of spots, however Appalachian State may make that troublesome. Liberty, who would’ve been within the playoff final yr if the present system was in place, travels to Boone in an enormous CUSA vs Solar Belt showdown. Whereas the loser can nonetheless go on to win their league’s title, this sport may tip the scales when the rankings come out — even when neither of those groups win their convention crown.  

This sport will go an extended strategy to figuring out the ACC champion. Positive, with divisions gone within the ACC we may see these two have a rematch in Charlotte, however the loser of this sport would not wish to take any probabilities. Paradoxically, these are the 2 packages who’re most vocal about attempting to depart the convention they’re attempting to win. The Seminoles ended a 7-game dropping streak to the Tigers final yr. 

It nonetheless appears so bizarre that the Buckeyes and Geese will meet in Oregon for a Massive Ten convention sport. These two colleges met three years in the past in Columbus and the Geese shocked the Buckeyes, 35-28 … a loss that probably stored them out of the Faculty Soccer Playoff. This time round, the sport is in Eugene and within the thick of the common season. Each groups might be undefeated heading into this assembly and able to let the ball fly. Dillon Gabriel takes over the QB spot for Oregon to switch Bo Nix whereas Ohio State is completely loaded. 

With all of the chaos among the many SEC powers, Ole Miss is type of hiding within the weeds. Positive, they are going to be ranked excessive heading into this showdown in Baton Rouge, however additionally they might be undefeated heading into this week, which is able to start a brutal second-half schedule. By the point we get right here, Rebels’ quarterback Jaxson Dart might be firing on all cylinders, and LSU has its work lower out for it. 

The Rivalry strikes to the SEC. Texas walks into this assembly with momentum — they have been within the Faculty Soccer Playoff final yr and are the one faculty amongst these 4 returning their head coach. Nonetheless, Oklahoma did gained final yr’s assembly in Dallas, 34-30, and has gained 5 of the final six conferences and 7 of 9. The sport was at all times necessary as a result of nature of the rivalry and usually was an enormous card to play when deciding the Massive 12 championship, however with each within the SEC and the aggressive nature of that convention neither crew needs to lose this sport and must combat again up the standings. 

One other assertion I although I would by no means make: Georgia heads to Austin to face Texas in a pivotal SEC showdown. Texas gained the Massive 12 final season and reached the Faculty Soccer Playoffs whereas Georgia missed out on an opportunity to three-peat. With the division format gone within the SEC, this can be a large sport with all types of playoff implications. The loser must discover a strategy to climb again into the race for the convention crown in the event that they wish to win a type of coveted byes.

Missouri is the fashionable outside-the-box crew this yr, and for good motive. The Brady Cook dinner-to-Luther Burden III tandem ought to fill spotlight reveals because the Tigers look to construct on their 11-2 season. The Tigers even have a comparatively calm schedule for an SEC crew — they do head to Texas A&M in October and host Oklahoma in November — however this sport in Tuscaloosa is completely enormous for Mizzou. This sport is type of snuck in there for Bama (between journeys to Tennessee and LSU) so if there may be ever a time for the Tigers to shock the Tide, this could be the yr. If they will pull this off and maintain enterprise elsewhere, Missouri has an actual good take a look at enjoying for an SEC title and getting a playoff berth. Alabama wants this win as a result of there are too many different landmines on the market on their schedule that they can not afford to not report a W right here. 

No faculty advantages extra from the playoff growth than Penn State. The Nittany Lions may go 10-2 and don’t have any shot at a playoff berth as a result of these losses can be to division rivals Ohio State and Michigan. The Massive Ten has ditched divisions, so Penn State is not held down by being the third-best program within the East division (heck, they will not even play Michigan this season). Quarterback Drew Allar has star potential, however he performed actually poorly within the Nittany Lions’ largest video games final yr. This qualifies as an enormous sport. 

Welcome to the Massive Ten, Oregon! Not solely do they host Ohio State in September, however they aslo get to journey to Ann Arbor to face Michigan of their first season of their new convention. This league certain wish to load up the again half of the schedule with large video games and, boy, is that this an enormous one. Dan Lanning’s protection might be Massive Ten prepared and by the point we get to November, Dillon Gabriel and that offense must be rolling alongside. Sherrone Moore hopes that his Wolverines offense can say the identical factor. This might arrange as an elimination-type sport within the league. 

Although the SEC’s division format is gone, we nonetheless get to see the nice ol’ Bama-LSU combat that might decide who will get to the convention championship in Atlanta. As I discussed earlier, Alabama would not head into this sport with the trump card of Nick Saban anymore. Brian Kelly‘s bunch might be hungry to knock off the Tide and take a leap in direction of a playoff berth. Each groups may have a bye earlier than this sport (they will want it, because the Tide face Tennessee and Missouri heading into it, whereas the Tigers journey to Arkansas and Texas A&M). The winner of this sport has made it to the SEC title sport in every of the final six seasons. 

November ninth might be a banner day within the SEC. Georgia-Ole Miss. Alabama-LSU and Oklahoma-Missouri. In Oxford, this might be an elimination sport of types, relying on what has occurred main up. These two met final yr between the hedges and the Dawgs completely demolished the Rebels, 52-17. How a lot has Ole Miss improved since then? That is additionally the ultimate street sport for Georgia and an ideal alternative to punch their ticket to the SEC title tilt. 

Florida State’s season might be about revenge and attempting to repeat itself as an ACC champion and take its rightful place within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Notre Dame believes they’re now able to get again to being a participant on the nationwide stage, and popping the Seminoles in South Bend can be an enormous feather of their hat. The Irish haven’t got the luxurious of successful a convention title, so they need to discover a strategy to nab one of many seven at-large bids. If Duke switch Riley Leonard can click on with the offense, the Irish may make that run. 

One of many good issues that has include the present convention realignment is the return of Texas-Texas A&M. When A&M left the Massive 12 in 2012, the rivalry that was performed a minimum of yearly since 1898 was now over. With Texas’ transfer to the SEC to hitch the Aggies, we get the rivalry again and will probably be necessary. The Longhorns acquired an enormous style of the Faculty Soccer Playoff and wish to get again. Not simply get again, however they really feel as if they may win the SEC of their first season and play for a nationwide championship. Texas A&M isn’t any slouch, and would love nothing to wreck the Horns’ plans in Mike Elko‘s first season. 

This sport has been so significant the previous few years and it may get even greater. For starters, the warmth is on for Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day to simply beat Michigan for the primary time since 2019. Jim Harbaugh left the defending champions for the NFL, however his alternative (Sherrone Moore) was the interim head coach final season when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes for the third straight time. This sport additionally modifications with the backdrop of the brand new playoff and Massive Ten codecs. For one, the loser nonetheless may have an excellent likelihood to nab one of many 12 playoff spots, however probably would not be capable of get a bye. Additionally, with the Massive Ten eliminating divisions, we may see these two strap again up for a rematch per week later in Indianapolis for the convention championship. Think about seeing this rivalry on a impartial subject with each followers in attendance! 

Whereas the convention championship video games have at all times mattered, they’re of even larger significance and relevance now. As , the highest 5 ranked convention champions are assured a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff (excellent news, ACC!), so a win … even an upset … means you bought a type of 12 seats. Not solely that however the high 4 ranked convention champs will get a first-round bye. That’s completely a vital benefit to have. You could have one much less sport to play and it provides you that standard bowl relaxation time packages have been accustomed to.

There’s additionally the half in regards to the sport itself being a greater product. With everybody dumping divisions, we’ll get the 2 greatest groups going through off in these video games. No extra Michigan-Ohio State within the common season finale with the winner pounding the Massive Ten West champ the next week. For probably the most half, each groups enjoying in these title video games might be official playoff caliber squads, and once you determine that an precise playoff berth goes to the winner, you see that we’ll have quite a bit on the road. Even these Group of 5 conferences might be video games to keep watch over since a type of champs will find yourself within the playoff. So, not solely is successful the sport paramount, however model factors may assist raise your rating above the opposite winners. I’m so wanting ahead to how this shakes out.