In case you missed it, the college football playoffs are expanding! Not until 2024, but still, it’s fun to play around with scenarios and brackets. The top six conference champions will receive automatic bids and six “at large” bids will be handed out to the highest ranking non-conference winning NCAA teams. The top four teams receive byes, and the remaining teams, seeds 5-12, will start duking it out.
The higher seed earns home-field advantage for the first round, and the remaining three rounds will be hosted by traditional bowl game sites as college football seeks to crown a true national champion.
Playing with this year’s teams gets fun quickly. Here’s how the bracket would open if the format was in place for 2022.
First Round Byes
- Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Champion)
- Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten Champion)
- Clemson Tigers (ACC Champion)
- Utah Utes (Pac-12 Champion)
Receiving a bye for ranking 7th and 8th, respectively, would automatically shake things up for Clemson and Utah among college football analysts. No one probably has anything critical to say regarding Georgia or Michigan.
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive back Vincent Gray (4) tackles Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) during the fourth quarter in the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
First Round College Football Matchups
With the higher seeds having home-field advantage in the first round, an economic boost/reward would likely be felt by TCU, Ohio State, Alabama, and Tennessee.
#5 TCU vs #12 Tulane
This matchup would likely feature high-flying big offensive plays and a possible shootout. The Hypnotoad would be tested. The winner plays Utah.
#6 Ohio State vs #11 Penn State
A rematch of the Big Ten East likely unfolds again with travel distance minimal. The atmosphere would be absolute fire. The winner would play Clemson.
#7 Alabama vs #10 USC
Since we are pretending here, imagine a fully healthy matchup between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams! Winner to face off vs Michigan.
#8 Tennessee vs #9 Kansas State
Home-field advantage likely matters in this one as the game might contain the tightest competition of the opening college football playoff round. Win, and you draw Georgia.
Future Rounds and Bowl Sites
After the opening round and seeds, it’s all speculation. Would there bet upsets? Probably. Would it be fun? Absolutely.
As the knockouts continue, we would cruise through the traditional venues of the Sugar, Rose, Orange and Cotton Bowls. The quarterfinals would be played at the Peach and Fiesta Bowls. And, the title game would land in Inglewood, CA at SoFi Stadium.
Imagine the daily fantasy slates! What a ride that would be!! And, DFS Army covers it all.
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