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 3 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 making an attempt to aim to point out they matter. Will they have the ability to present they’re again? If Cade Klubnik can take that subsequent leap up then the Tigers might win the ACC. As for Georgia, nicely, they’re a machine proper now. They had been a poor SEC title sport displaying from presumably profitable a 3rd straight nationwide championship. That is what they do. 

Michigan’s profitable streak could possibly be in jeopardy as two of final 12 months’s School Soccer Playoff groups meet in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines have had a variety 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 choices come round whereas the loser offers up their wiggle room of incomes an at-large berth. 

If Boise State can go into Oregon and pop the Geese, that can give them a significant card to play on the finish of the season. The Broncos’ schedule is not daunting, which provides them a shot at changing into Mountain West champions. A win over Oregon would possible be the largest win any Group of 5 champion might have on their resume come December. Might it occur? Eh. But it surely could possibly be a entice sport of kinds because the revamped rivalry sport at Oregon State comes the next week. 

These two have just about owned the SEC over the past twenty years (sure, I see you LSU, Auburn and Florida). The 2 have mixed for 11 SEC championships over the past 15 years, assembly 4 occasions 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 not less than one in all them have made the School Soccer Playoff in 9 of its 10 seasons (each made it in the identical 12 months 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 12 months’s SEC title sport that stored the Bulldogs out of the playoff. 

The brand new look Large 12 is large open this 12 months. Each Arizona and Utah (together with Oklahoma State and Kansas State) really feel they’re the most effective on this league — their new league — which makes this somewhat early season tilt actually necessary. The winner of this sport needs to be the front-runner to nab one of many Large 12 title spots, as neither Arizona nor Utah actually have a frightening highway after this. If QB Cameron Rising can keep wholesome, this league could be the Utes to lose. Arizona will want their protection to gel early on or they could possibly be taking part in catch-up.  

One of many neat issues concerning 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 group reached the playoff (AAC’s Cincinnati in 2021), and so they needed to be undefeated, beat Energy 5 colleges, and hope for some Energy 5 slippage. No extra. You realize longer should be excellent to get a playoff spot — you simply should be a convention champion and the most effective of the 5. Liberty enters the 12 months as the favourite to nab a type of spots, however Appalachian State might make that tough. Liberty, who would’ve been within the playoff final 12 months 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 might tip the scales when the rankings come out — even when neither of those groups win their convention crown.  

This sport will go a protracted technique to figuring out the ACC champion. Positive, with divisions gone within the ACC we might see these two have a rematch in Charlotte, however the loser of this sport would not need to take any possibilities. Paradoxically, these are the 2 packages who’re most vocal about making an attempt to go away the convention they’re making an attempt to win. The Seminoles ended a 7-game dropping streak to the Tigers final 12 months. 

It nonetheless appears so bizarre that the Buckeyes and Geese will meet in Oregon for a Large 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 possible stored them out of the School Soccer Playoff. This time round, the sport is in Eugene and within the thick of the common season. Each groups could possibly 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 sort of hiding within the weeds. Positive, they are going to be ranked excessive heading into this showdown in Baton Rouge, however additionally they could possibly be undefeated heading into this week, which can start a brutal second-half schedule. By the point we get right here, Rebels’ quarterback Jaxson Dart could possibly be firing on all cylinders, and LSU has its work minimize out for it. 

The Rivalry strikes to the SEC. Texas walks into this assembly with momentum — they had been within the School Soccer Playoff final 12 months and are the one faculty amongst these 4 returning their head coach. Nevertheless, Oklahoma did gained final 12 months’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 because of the nature of the rivalry and sometimes was an enormous card to play when deciding the Large 12 championship, however with each within the SEC and the aggressive nature of that convention neither group desires to lose this sport and should combat again up the standings. 

One other assertion I although I might by no means make: Georgia heads to Austin to face Texas in a pivotal SEC showdown. Texas gained the Large 12 final season and reached the School Soccer Playoffs whereas Georgia missed out on an opportunity to three-peat. With the division format gone within the SEC, it is a huge sport with all types of playoff implications. The loser should discover a technique to climb again into the race for the convention crown in the event that they need to win a type of coveted byes.

Missouri is the fashionable outside-the-box group this 12 months, 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 group — they do head to Texas A&M in October and host Oklahoma in November — however this sport in Tuscaloosa is completely large for Mizzou. This sport is sort of snuck in there for Bama (between journeys to Tennessee and LSU) so if there’s ever a time for the Tigers to shock the Tide, this is able to be the 12 months. If they’ll pull this off and deal with enterprise elsewhere, Missouri has an actual good take a look at taking part in 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 file a W right here. 

No faculty advantages extra from the playoff enlargement than Penn State. The Nittany Lions might 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 Large 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’ greatest video games final 12 months. This qualifies as an enormous sport. 

Welcome to the Large 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 will probably be Large Ten prepared and by the point we get to November, Dillon Gabriel and that offense needs to 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 would 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 will probably be hungry to knock off the Tide and take a leap in the direction of a playoff berth. Each groups can 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 will probably be a banner day within the SEC. Georgia-Ole Miss. Alabama-LSU and Oklahoma-Missouri. In Oxford, this could possibly be an elimination sport of kinds, relying on what has occurred main up. These two met final 12 months 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 highway sport for Georgia and a fantastic alternative to punch their ticket to the SEC title tilt. 

Florida State’s season will probably be about revenge and making an attempt to repeat itself as an ACC champion and take its rightful place within the School Soccer Playoff. Notre Dame believes they’re now ready 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 do not have the luxurious of profitable a convention title, so they need to discover a technique to nab one of many seven at-large bids. If Duke switch Riley Leonard can click on with the offense, the Irish might 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 Large 12 in 2012, the rivalry that was performed not less than yearly since 1898 was now over. With Texas’ transfer to the SEC to affix the Aggies, we get the rivalry again and it is going to be necessary. The Longhorns acquired an enormous style of the School Soccer Playoff and need to get again. Not simply get again, however they really feel as if they might 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 spoil the Horns’ plans in Mike Elko‘s first season. 

This sport has been so significant the previous couple of years and it might 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 Large Ten codecs. For one, the loser nonetheless might have a very good probability to nab one of many 12 playoff spots, however possible would not have the ability to get a bye. Additionally, with the Large Ten eliminating divisions, we might see these two strap again up for a rematch every week later in Indianapolis for the convention championship. Think about seeing this rivalry on a impartial area with each followers in attendance! 

Whereas the convention championship video games have at all times mattered, they’re of even higher significance and relevance now. As you recognize, the highest 5 ranked convention champions are assured a spot within the School 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 crucial benefit to have. You will have one much less sport to play and it offers you that standard bowl relaxation time packages have been accustomed to.

There’s additionally the half concerning the sport itself being a greater product. With everybody dumping divisions, we are going to get the 2 greatest groups dealing with off in these video games. No extra Michigan-Ohio State within the common season finale with the winner pounding the Large Ten West champ the next week. For probably the most half, each groups taking part in in these title video games will probably be respectable playoff caliber squads, and whenever you determine that an precise playoff berth goes to the winner, you see that we’ll have loads on the road. Even these Group of 5 conferences will probably be video games to control since a type of champs will find yourself within the playoff. So, not solely is profitable the sport paramount, however model factors might assist carry your rating above the opposite winners. I’m so trying ahead to how this shakes out.