Ranking all 40 College Football Playoff teams so far with expanded field following 2024 season

The 2024 college football season will usher in a new era of access to the College Football Playoff, which moves to 12 team-field with a handful of auto-bids for conference champions after operating in a four-team format for the past 10 seasons. While the changes will allow for more teams to keep the dream of a national championship alive into at least mid-December on an annual basis, gone are the days when near-perfection was required in the regular season to have a shot for the exclusive postseason spectacle. 

In total, 15 schools accounted for the 40 total CFP berths that were awarded during the four-team era, with six programs qualifying three times or more. But while all those teams did enough for the CFP Selection Committee to be deemed among the “four best” in their respective years, not all playoff participants over the years were created equal. Weighing playoff performance, roster talent and plenty more, we set out to rank all 40 teams that have reached the CFP as one chapter closes and a new one begins. 

40. 2015 Michigan State

Result: Lost Cotton Bowl semifinal to Alabama, 38-0 — A controversial road loss at Nebraska was all that kept Michigan State from going 13-0 in the regular season. But even with a Big Ten title and road win at reigning national champion Ohio State to show, the Spartans’ limits seemed clear. They ranked a pedestrian sixth in the Big Ten in scoring on both offense (29.8 ppg) and defense (21.7 ppg). It got ugly in a hurry against an Alabama team that went on to win it all.

Result: Lost Rose Bowl semifinal to Oregon, 59-20 — Even as the undefeated defending national champion with former Heisman winner Jamies Winston at quarterback, the Seminoles never quite passed the eye test. Seven of Florida State’s 13 wins…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ranking-all-40-college-football-playoff-teams-so-far-with-expanded-field-following-2024-season/

Author : Dean Straka

Publish date : 2024-01-15 18:57:18

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