The conference reorganization is now complete, and the landscape has changed significantly. USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington have joined the Big Ten, while Colorado, Arizona State, Arizona, and Utah have joined the Big 12. Additionally, SMU, Stanford, and the University of California, Berkeley have all joined the Atlantic Coast Conference. Stanford and their new conference mate Boston College are separated by 3,125 miles.
The reorganization resulted in the loss of one of college football’s most iconic rivals – “Bedlam.” Oklahoma State will no longer play Oklahoma, following the latter’s move to the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
However, we have gained another legendary rivalry, with Texas now set to face Texas A&M in the SEC. That game will take place the Saturday after Thanksgiving, marking the first meeting between the two teams in 13 years. The 102,000 fans at Kyle Field in College Station are sure to be in high spirits for the game.
End of an era
For the first time since 1995, college football will be without either Nick Saban or Jim Harbaugh as coaches. Saban has retired and is now working for ESPN, while Harbaugh has moved on to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
Will Alabama and Michigan experience a slowdown? Their fans hope so. Certainly not. Alabama is ranked fifth to start the season, while Michigan is ranked ninth after winning the national championship last year.
Without Saban and Harbaugh, only three active coaches have won a national title — Dabo Swinney with two at Clemson, Kirby Smart with two at Georgia, and Mack Brown, who won one at Texas, currently coaches the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The 12-team bracket will consist of the five highest-ranked conference champions and the teams ranked seventh through 12th. There is no limit to the number of teams from a single conference that can qualify.
The top four conference champions, as determined by the CFP Selection Committee, will earn a bye into the first round. The next four seeds will host a first-round game on their campus or at a preferred stadium.
Imagine Alabama facing off at The Horseshoe in Ohio or Texas entering Happy Valley against Penn State, with the season on the line. Those first-round games will take place on December 20 and 21.
The quarter-finals and semi-finals will then be hosted by the Six Great Festivals bowls. The quarter-finals will take place on New Year’s Day and New Year’s Day.
The semifinals will be on January 9th with the Orange Bowl, then on January 10th with the Cotton Bowl. We will have our last game for the College Football National Championship this year in Atlanta on January 20th.
Teams to watch
Georgia remains the heavy favorite to win. Ranked No. 1 in both the preseason coaches’ polls and theAssociated Press (AP)the Bulldogs fan base continues to simmer after missing the playoffs last year despite their perfect record during the regular season.
Despite the departure of quarterback Kyle McCord, who transferred to Syracuse, Ohio State remains the second favorite. The Buckeyes boast an impressively talented roster and have added Caleb Downs, the SEC Freshman of the Year and standout safety, via the transfer portal. A strong run in the CFP could be on the cards for them.
Oregon, the new entrant to the Big Ten, is ranked third in the AP poll and aims to build on a successful 2023 season that concluded with a 12-2 record. Dillon Gabriel, who replaces Bo Nix at quarterback, who was drafted 12th overall by the Denver Broncos, will lead the Ducks as they seek their first national championship and their first CFP appearance since 2014.
The SEC’s newest member, Texas, is ranked fourth in the AP poll. With an overwhelmingly talented roster, Texas fields arguably the most formidable quarterback corps in college football – Arch Manning, the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, serves as backup to Quinn Ewers, the current incumbent starter.
Pay close attention to Colorado, led by Deion Sanders. Despite finishing with a 4-8 record last season, the Buffaloes started their campaign with three victories, causing a nationwide stir. With ‘Prime Time’ at the helm, Colorado will aim to improve upon its disappointing 2023 campaign.
Michigan presents an intriguing storyline as they transition into Harbaugh’s absence. JJ McCarthy, the starting quarterback, in addition to several other key players, has also moved onto the NFL. The Wolverines’ potential to reach the heights of last season’s performances remains to be seen.
Keep an eye on Florida State, who hold a grudge against the CFP Selection Committee following their omission from the playoffs as the first undefeated team from a major Power-5 conference to be excluded since its inception in 2014.
Finally, Washington may experience a significant downturn this season. Following head coach Kalen DeBoer’s departure to replace Saban at Alabama, the Huskies have seen several key players, including quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Rome Odunze, both drafted eighth and ninth overall respectively, depart for the NFL.
The revamped conference lineup in college football has resulted in the University of California, Berkeley now competing in a new sporting environment in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This shift will place Stanford, their new conference companion, over 3,000 miles away.
With several coaching changes at major college football teams, the absence of Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh from the coaching ranks could impact their respective teams’ performances this season. Both Alabama and Michigan are ranked highly in the polls, but without their experienced coaches, their success remains to be seen.
