Ben Kenney
May 12, 2024 8:00 am CT
College football enters a new world in 2024. The Big Ten and SEC officially dominate the sport as the College Football Playoff expands to a 12-team field.
The new landscape will take time to get used to. It will no longer take a miracle run to a conference championship for some of the have-nots to make the playoff field. Now a strong 9-3 season could be enough, even with losses to each of the top teams on the schedule.
Related:Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings,starting quarterback rankings
Wisconsin’s place in this new landscape is unknown. The program’s 2016, 2017 and 2019 seasons would have been 12-team CFP-worthy. But that was in the Big Ten West era, and back when the program was operating at its best.
Head coach Luke Fickell is working to return the program to that form. But if he does, will it be good enough in an increasingly difficult Big Ten landscape? These are all questions we will begin to answer when the season kicks off this fall.
For now, we’re taking a look at the projected 12-team College Football Playoff field and bracket based on our post-spring top 25 ranking:
No. 1 Seed: Georgia
Dec. 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart reacts after defeating Florida State Seminoles in the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia would be the No. 1 overall seed and SEC champion.
Get more (Georgia) news, analysis and opinions onUGA Wire
No. 2: Oregon
Nov. 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning (center) leads quarterback Bo Nix (10) and Ty Thompson (13) onto the field for the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oregon is our No. 2 team in the nation and projected Big Ten champion.
Get more (Ducks) news, analysis and opinions onDucks Wire
No. 3 Seed: Utah
April 23, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham looks on during the second half of the Utah Spring Football Game at Rice–Eccles Stadium. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Utah is a Big 12 newcomer and will enter as the conference favorite. Remember, the top conference champs get the coveted first-round byes. The Big 12 champion will qualify.
No. 4: Florida State
Sept. 23, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell on the sideline in the first half against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
We have Florida State ranked one spot behind Utah. That means the Seminoles, the projected ACC champ, would grab the final bye.
No. 5: Texas
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian greets wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) while warming up for the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoffsemifinals game against the Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK
Texas is our highest-ranked at-large bid (No. 3 in the top 25). Since it is in the SEC and isn’t our projected champion, it would have to host a first-round game.
Get more (Texas) news, analysis and opinions onLonghorns Wire
No. 6: Ohio State
Dec. 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day walks off the field after losing 14-3 to Missouri Tigers in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
The importance of conference titles will be apparent when the Big Ten winner gets a week off while the loser is forced to host a game during the next few weeks. The Buckeyes are nearly a CFP lock with one of the nation’s best defenses and a likely quarterback upgrade.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions onBuckeyes Wire
No. 7: Ole Miss
Nov. 6, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin talks with a referee after a call during the second half against the Liberty Flames at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
This is the year for the Rebels to contend for the SEC title and enter the playoff field. They could be the third- or fourth-best team in the SEC and still make it, depending on how the committee values strength of schedule.
They enter as our No. 7 seed and will host a first-round game.
No. 8: Alabama
Jan. 13, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; The University of Alabama introduced new head football coach Kalen DeBoer with a press conference at Bryant-Denny Stadium. DeBoer speaks during the press conference. Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK
Alabama likely will not be a true contender in Year 1 under Kalen DeBoer. But the foundation is too strong and he’s too good of a coach for the team not to make the playoff.
Get more (Alabama) news, analysis and opinions onRoll Tide Wire
No. 9: Penn State
Dec. 30, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
James Franklin’s team goes 9-3 or 10-2 … but this year makes the playoff. Nothing will have changed but the goal posts, which will not help those who want Franklin ousted.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions onNittany Lions Wire
No. 10: Notre Dame
Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman celebrates at the 90th annual Sun Bowl game against Oregon State on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at El Paso, Texas. GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES-USA TODAY NETWORK
Marcus Freeman needs a splash in year three as head coach. We see that happening as, again, the expanded field helps the perennial 10-2 programs.
Get more (Notre Dame) news, analysis and opinions onFighting Irish Wire
No. 11: Missouri
Nov. 24, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz during the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 48-14. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
The final at-large bid is Missouri. This would give the SEC five of the 12 playoff spots. The Big Ten grabbed three.
No. 12: Boise State
Dec. 2, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada; Boise State Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson celebrates after 44-20 victory over the UNLV Rebels in the Mountain West Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Boise State did not appear in our preseason top 25 ranking, but none of our top 25 would be a non-power conference champion. Boise State fits that criteria in the Mountain West, which would likely send a more attractive team than the American would.
Near misses
Dec. 28, 2023; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables looks on in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at Alamodome. Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
The nature of the new system means top 12 teams can still miss the playoff thanks to the autobids for conference champions. Here are the near misses from our top 25:
- Oklahoma Sooners (No. 11 in top 25)
- Michigan Wolverines (No. 12)
- Clemson Tigers (No. 14)
First Round
Oct. 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio; Ohio State Buckeyes running backs coach Tony Alford, head coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye signal from the sideline during the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
- No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Boise State
- No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Missouri
- No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Notre Dame
- No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 9 Penn State
BYES: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Utah, No. 4 Florida State
Quarterfinal
Jan. 1, 2024; Pasadena, California; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates after making a catch in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2024 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl. Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama/No. 9 Penn State
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 7 Ole Miss/No. 10 Notre Dame
Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Utah vs. No. 6 Ohio State/No. 11 Missouri
Peach Bowl: No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 5 Texas/No. 12 Boise State
Projected Semifinal
April 13, 2024; Athens, Georgia; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart on the field during the G-Day Game at Sanford Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
- Orange Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 5 Texas
- Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 6 Ohio State
Projected CFP National Championship
Jan. 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida; Confetti falls onto the field after the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 College Football Playoff national championship Game. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Matchup: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 2 Oregon (in Atlanta, Georgia)
This would be a de facto home game for Georgia as it looks for its third national title in four years. I have my reservations about this new format, but the theater would be undeniable. Every one of these projected matchups would be a treat to watch and cover.
Follow Badgers Wire
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.
