How it all shakes up!

  1. Texas Longhorns* (12-1) SEC Champion, Loss: Georgia

  2. Penn State Nittany Lions* (12-1) BIG 10 Champion, Loss: Ohio State

  3. Clemson Tigers* (12-1) ACC Champion, Loss: South Carolina

  4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1), Loss: Texas A&M 

  5. Georgia Bulldogs* (12-1), Loss: Texas

  6. Arizona State Sun Devils* BIG 12 Champion (12-1), Loss: Utah

  7. Ohio State Buckeyes* (11-2), Losses: Texas, Penn State

  8. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1), Loss: Georgia 

  9. Oregon Ducks (11-1), Loss: Penn State

  10.  LSU Tigers (10-2), Losses: Alabama, Clemson

  11.  UNLV Rebels Mountain West Champion* (12-1), Loss: Boise State

  12. Texas A&M Aggies (10-2), Losses: LSU, Texas



First Out (ceilings of teams)

Illinois (10-2) Losses: Ohio State, Indiana

Iowa (10-2) Losses: Oregon, Penn State

Utah* (11-2) Losses: ASU, UCLA

Michigan (10-2) Losses: Ohio State, Oklahoma

Miami* (10-3) Losses: Notre Dame, Florida, Clemson 

*teams in conference championship games 

Underdogs:

Most of those teams in my playoff predictions are favored to make the playoffs, but there are a couple of sleeper picks. 

Texas A&M is one of those, Mike Elko turns football programs around and knows how to win games. He decided on making a change at quarterback last season as Marcel Reed showed what he is capable of. They return lots of experienced players notably, their whole offensive line and both of their star tailbacks. If they can clean up their defensive issues and turnovers from last season they will be a tough out.  

LSU is also one of those teams that is expected to make the playoffs but since they haven't been able to get over the hump they are on this list. Brian Kelly is a great coach but he loses games that he should be able to win. He has had trouble the last couple of years winning his first big game. I still believe he will have trouble as reports are out that QB Nussmeier is dealing with an injury. With that being said, they have a ton of returning players and they also had the #1 rated transfer portal class. He needs to get over the hump and I believe he will in 2025. 


UNLV has been at the top of the mountain west conference for the last couple of years. They always seem to get some really good transfers in the portal and they are usually a very well coached team. That will not change as Dan Mullen has been itching to get back into coaching ever since he coached the Florida Gators. They should be able to catch Boise on a little bit of a down year without some of their star players and win the mountain west and punch their ticket to the playoff.