How a 64-team college football tournament would play out

• Chris Low, ESPN Elder WriterMar 18, 2024, 09:00 AM ET Close College football
• press reporter Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
• Graduate of the University of Tennessee

We’re lastly as much as 12 groups in the College Football Playoff, which implies the expanded field in 2024 will feature a few of the not-so-usual suspects.At ESPN, we broadened the college football postseason a long period of time ago and will once again count down from 64 teams in our fictional 2024 NCAA football tournament.At the really least, the real life in college football

is slowly capturing up.Here’s the format: We have actually seeded the teams 1 through 64, and the seeds are

based mainly on ESPN’s newest SP+forecasts for the 2024 season.The leading 4 seeds are Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas(just Texas made the actual four-team playoff field a year ago). With the Longhorns being the fourth No. 1 seed, they will be forced to travel to the East Region.Seeds are just seeds, and all that matters is what occurs on the field, so get ready for some upsets. We’ll do our best to produce some compelling stories, despite the fact that the basketball committee insists it doesn’t engage in such contrived approaches when putting together its bracket.We have actually done our homework and looked over the rosters, specifically with a lot of new faces at new schools– not to mention Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh no longer training in the college ranks–

but we always strive to have a little fun.Today, we analyze the field and work our way through the very first 2 rounds of the competition, narrowing the swimming pool from 64 to 16. We’ll play the remainder of the games and crown a national champion Wednesday.

The bracket 1-seeds: Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas 2-seeds: Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame 3-seeds: Ole Miss, Florida State, Oklahoma, Missouri 4-seeds: Arizona, Tennessee, LSU, Utah 5-seeds: Clemson, Kansas State, Louisville, Miami

6-seeds: Wisconsin, Oklahoma State

, Texas A&M, USC 7-seeds: NC State, Kansas, Iowa, Auburn 8-seeds: Iowa State, SMU, Florida,

Virginia Tech 9-seeds: Washington, Kentucky

, TCU, Memphis 10-seeds: Nebraska, Texas

Tech, Maryland, Liberty 11-seeds: West Virginia, Oregon State,

Minnesota, South Carolina 12-seeds: Colorado, UCF, Boise State, Rutgers 13-seeds: UCLA, Duke,

Georgia Tech, BYU 14-seeds: North Carolina, Washington State, South Florida, Appalachian State 15-seeds: Illinois, Wake

Forest, Arkansas, Northwestern 16-seeds: Fresno State, James Madison, Miami( Ohio), UNLV Very first 4 out: Baylor, Cal, Louisiana, Arkansas State South Regional

Marcus Freeman seeks to push Notre Dame up another level. Matt Cashore/USA TODAY Sports First round (1)Georgia 42,(16)UNLV 7: A year earlier, Trevor Etienne was carrying the football for rival Florida. He’s now among the centerpieces of Georgia’s running game and pounds his way to 165 rushing yards

against a UNLV defense that just can’t hold up versus the Bulldogs’massive offending line. (2)Notre Dame 35,(15)Northwestern 20: David Braun did as great a training task as anybody in 2023 after taking control of for Pat Fitzgerald in an interim function, then being promoted towards the end of the season and leading Northwestern to an 8-5 finish.

The Wildcats follow up with another winning season in 2024, however fall behind early to the Irish and can’t comprise the deficit.(3)Missouri 30, (14 )Appalachian State 28: Appalachian State leads the entire way in this one in what has actually disturbed written all over it, and the fans in Boone, North Carolina, are giddy about removing Eliah Drinkwitz, who left App State following just one season. However a late 78-yard touchdown drive engineered by Brady Cook breaks the Mountaineers’ hearts.Editor’s Picks 2 Related (4)Utah 34,( 13) BYU 24: There’s nothing like rivals clashing in a postseason game, and with Utah signing up with the Huge 12 in 2024, that indicates we get to see these 2 go at it two times. The Utes win the regular-season game at home comfortably, however in the rematch, they require a forced fumble late in the 3rd quarter to break open

a close game.( 12) Rutgers 28, (5) Miami 24: Greg Schiano and Mario Cristobal, long time friends and former coworkers, discover themselves combined versus each other for the 2nd straight season after Schiano’s Scarlet Knights beat Cristobal’s Hurricanes in the Pinstripe Bowl to close the 2023 season. The old No. 5 vs. No. 12 curse strikes once again, as Rutgers pulls off

the very first upset of the tournament. (6) USC 31,(11)South Carolina 20: After all the pregame back-and-forth over who is the real”USC,”it’s chosen the field (for now)when the Trojans of the West Coast play their finest protective game of the season to hold the Gamecocks of the East Coast to one second-half touchdown.(10) Liberty 35, (7 )Auburn 34: Kaidon Salter remained in the transfer website at one point this offseason but withdrew his name. It’s a good thing for Liberty, as Salter accounts for four goals and scores the game-winner in the final minutes to spearhead the upset victory over his old coach, Hugh Freeze, and the Tigers. (8 )Virginia Tech 28,(9)Memphis 23:

Brent Pry’s 3rd season at Virginia Tech is his most successful. The Hokies hold their own with the ACC’s finest and win their last four games. In the postseason opener, Antwaun Powell-Ryland acquire 3 quarterback sacks to keep the Tigers on their heels every time it looks like they’re going to create some offending momentum.Second round( 1)Georgia 35

, (8 )Virginia Tech 10: Georgia’s capability to make offenses one-dimensional has been a staple under Kirby Smart. Virginia Tech is not able to generate any running game, and the Bulldogs ‘pass-rush feasts on a Hokies offending attack that continuously discovers itself in third-and-long. Virginia Tech’s only goal comes on the 40-yard return of an obstructed punt.

(2) Notre Dame 43, (10 )Liberty 23: Riley Leonard transferred to Notre Dame to play in big games like this, and as Notre Dame’s 2nd transfer quarterback in as several years, he provides with 3 touchdown passes after starting the contest by completing his first 9 passes.(3) Missouri 34, (6)USC 28: 2 of the most electric receivers in college football are on screen in this one– Luther Burden III for Missouri and Zachariah Branch for USC. Of the 2, Concern has the more skilled and knowledgeable quarterback, and Prepare gets in touch with Burden twice on third down to keep a game-clinching drive alive in the fourth quarter.(4) Utah 28,(12 )Rutgers 21: Figured out to show its first-round upset of Miami was no fluke, Rutgers leads the majority of the method against a Utah team that injures itself with turnovers. But tight end Brant Kuithe saves the Utes with a pair of fourth-quarter goal receptions, the last one coming between two Rutgers defenders in the corner of completion zone.Regional semifinals(1)Georgia vs.(4)Utah(2 )Notre Dame vs. (3)Missouri Midwest Regional How far can sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold lead the Sooners? Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports First round (1) Ohio State 45, (16) Miami (Ohio )20: This battle of Ohio has seldom been close in their six previous conferences, however the RedHawks assembled another strong season after winning the MAC in 2023. They just do not have the firepower to take on

an Ohio State lineup loaded with NFL talent. (2) Michigan

31, (15)Arkansas 28: Sherrone Moore’s very first NCAA competition game

as Michigan’s coach decreases to the last few belongings. The Hogs take a 28-24 lead on Landon Jackson’s strip sack and 24-yard

touchdown return. The Wolverines response, though, thanks to two fourth-down conversions and a late 10-yard touchdown run by Donovan Edwards.(3)Oklahoma 37,(14)South Florida 21: The enhancement at South Florida in 2 seasons under Alex Golesh is difficult to disregard, however so is the huge talent of Oklahoma quarterback

Jackson Arnold. The Sooners sophomore doesn’t flinch in his very first NCAA competition game, throwing for 325 yards and 3 touchdowns.(4 )LSU 20,(13)Georgia Tech 14: It’s the SEC vs. the ACC in this first-round game that is played in a driving rainstorm. The teams integrate to turn the ball over six times, and both defenses make stops with their backs at the goal line. The Tigers hold on to advance after a fourth-down pass into the end zone by Georgia Tech’s Haynes King is batted away.( 5)Louisville 30,(12 )Boise State 20: Jeff Brohm guided Louisville to the ACC championship game in his very first season back at his university a year ago. That was simply a teaser, as the Cardinals once again get to 10 regular-season wins and make sure that there’s no drama in their postseason opener by constructing a 20-0 lead in the first half and cruising the rest of the way.(6) Texas A&M 35,(11 )Minnesota 24: Darius Taylor stays healthy for the whole season and develops himself as one of the top young running backs in college football. He keeps Minnesota in the game with 145 hurrying yards, however Texas A&M pulls away with Conner Weigman throwing a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes. (10) Maryland 24, (7) Iowa 20: This is one of the most significant wins of Mike Locksley’s period at Maryland. Not just do the Terps advance to the Round of 32 by holding the Hawkeyes to 212 overall backyards, however they extend their gaining streak to five straight games– one of those a win over Iowa the next-to-last week of the routine season in College Park.

( 8) Florida 42, (9) TCU 24: The Gators required something great to occur in Year 3 under Billy Napier, and they get it with among their most remarkable getaways of the season in their NCAA competition opener. Florida passes for more than 300 lawns and rushes for more than 200 in a convincing victory.Second round(1)Ohio State 31, (8)Florida 10: Quarterback Will Howard bolted

Kansas State for Ohio State with the hopes of betting college football’s leading prize. The Buckeyes move a step closer to doing simply that although Howard doesn’t have to play a big role in a game that’s controlled by defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and an Ohio State defense that locks out the Gators in the first half.(2)Michigan 23,( 10) Maryland 20: The Wolverines are living precariously in the postseason, but there’s something to be said for finding ways to win when your season is on the line. For the 2nd straight game, Michigan makes sufficient clutch plays in the fourth quarter to advance, none bigger than Will Johnson’s one-handed interception on the sideline. (3) Oklahoma 38, (6)Texas A&M 20: With the ever-changing landscape in college football, there will be an increased variety of intraconference matches in the competition. Oklahoma’s first venture through the SEC consists of a few hiccups, however the Sooners are playing their best football of the season and put the Aggies away by reeling off 21 unanswered points.(5)Louisville 28,(4 )LSU 24: The matchup everyone was

preparing for entering into this game was LSU’s offensive tackles vs. Louisville’s pass-rushers. There’s NFL talent on both sides, however the best player on the field is Louisville protective end Ashton Gillotte. He’s the distinction in this game with his capability to consistently press LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.Regional semifinals( 1)Ohio State vs.( 5)Louisville(2 )Michigan vs.(3)Oklahoma West Regional Dan Lanning’s success at Oregon continues to grow by leaps and bounds. AP Photo/Godofredo A. Va ¡ squez Preliminary (1)Oregon 45,(16 )James Madison 13: Dan Lanning’s third season at Oregon is his best yet, with the Ducks earning a No. 1 seed in their first year in the

Big Ten. They play like a No. 1 seed in their NCAA competition opener with more than 500 yards in total offense and 3 forced turnovers in a runaway success. (2)Penn State 33,(15 )Wake Forest 17: Regardless of considerable turnover on a defense that led the nation in sacks(49)and takes on for loss (111 )in 2023, Penn State again bends its muscles on that side of the ball under first-year organizer Tom Allen

. The Nittany Lions record five sacks in their first-round win over the Deacons

. (3 )Florida State 34, (14)Washington State 21: It’s a new world for Washington State in a Pac-12 conference reduced to 2 groups. The Cougars play 11 nonconference games in Jake Dickert’s third complete season as coach. Florida State, still smarting from its playoff snub a year ago, leaps out to a 17-point lead before creating a seven-minute goal drive in the fourth quarter to end Washington State’s resurgence quote.(4)Tennessee 38,(13) Duke 28: A pair of former California star high school quarterbacks battle in this amusing first-round contest that sees an overall of six goal passes. In the end, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava has more skill around him, and the Vols advance despite Maalik Murphy playing among his finest games of the season for heaven Devils.(12 )UCF 28, (5) Kansas State 23: A few of the best news for UCF in the offseason was running back RJ Harvey announcing that he was returning for his senior season. And what a season it is, as Harvey goes from among the

more underrated players in the country to one of the best. He rolls up 178 hurrying backyards and 3 goals in an upset win over the Wildcats.( 6)Oklahoma State 28,(11)Oregon State 24: Comparable to the 2023 season, Oklahoma State leaves to a slow start. But by the time the calendar turns to November, the Cowboys are peaking. That’s bad news for Oregon State, which hangs around and has an opportunity to win at the end under first-year coach Trent Bray. However the Beavers are stopped on first-and-goal inside the 10 in the closing minute.(7)Kansas 31, (10 )Texas Tech 30: Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels was worthy of an injury-free season after being pestered by injuries in 2023 and 2022, and he gets his dream. He makes big play after huge play to counter a 204-yard hurrying performance from Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks to lead the Jayhawks to an exhilarating win that isn’t chosen up until the final seconds.( 9)Kentucky 27, (8) SMU 23: Winning in the postseason is constantly a lot easier when you’re dominant in the defensive front. Kentucky’s Deone Walker is amongst the very best interior linemen in the nation and shows to be the distinction in this tightly contested first-round game. The 6-foot-6, 348-pound junior is a one-man trashing device versus the

Mustangs.Second round (1)Oregon 31, (9) Kentucky 16: The Ducks publish their second straight convincing success in the competition, this one coming after a slow start that results in a fiery halftime berating by Lanning. It’s all Oregon in the 2nd half with Tez Johnson two times getting open for deep touchdown receptions.(2) Penn State 28,(7)Kansas 17: Daniels and Kansas manage to keep it close in the first half and have a possibility

to take the lead early in the third quarter, however a short basket is blocked. The 2nd half comes from the Penn State running game, namely Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, as the Nittany Lions play keep-away and mash their way to 2 long scoring drives.(3)Florida State 33, (6)Oklahoma State 23: Jared Verse was a difference-maker at defensive end a year ago for

the ACC champ Seminoles. Now that he has actually gone to the NFL, Florida State will need others to step up. Fortunately is there’s depth at protective end, which depth appears as five players record sacks versus Oklahoma State.(4) Tennessee 37,(12)UCF 27: Josh Heupel faces his old group, a UCF club that’s playing with a great deal of confidence after distressing Kansas State in the first

round

. Iamaleava plays mistake-free football for the Vols and doesn’t need to shoulder too much of the burden, as Dylan Sampson and Cameron Seldon each rush for 100 yards.Regional semifinals(1) Oregon vs.( 4) Tennessee (2)Penn State vs. (3 )Florida State East Regional Jalen Milroe and Alabama want to return to football’s Last 4. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Preliminary (1)Texas 42, (16) Fresno State 14: The Longhorns fell one game except playing for the championship game in 2023. In their first season in the SEC, they do not take their foot off the gas and breeze through their first-round

game. A number of transfers make big plays, consisting of former Alabama receiver Isaiah Bond catching 2 touchdowns(however none on fourth-and-31 ).(2)Alabama 30,(15) Illinois 13: The postseason debut for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama is an effective one as the Crimson Tide’s defense steals the program. They hold Illinois to one touchdown and rating one of their own when linebacker Deontae Lawson

returns a tipped pass 42 yards for a goal. (3)Ole Miss 38, (14) North Carolina 21: Lane Kiffin has his finest lineup yet at Ole Miss, particularly on defense, and the Rebels utilize a balanced attack on offense and some game-changing plays on defense to put this first-round game away midway through the 3rd quarter. Afterward, the focus moves to whether Hall of Famer Mack Brown plans to retire as

UNC’s coach. (4) Arizona 35

, (13 )UCLA 24: Jedd Fisch left a talented roster at Arizona to take the Washington head-coaching job, and Brent Brennan was more than happy to come in and coach the players Fisch left behind. The Wildcats’ first-round win over their former Pac-12 mates is especially sweet for the Huge 12, which gets

a postseason win over the new-look Huge 10.(5)Clemson 27, (12) Colorado 24: It’s Dabo vs. Prime, and the game more than measures up to its billing. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders is dazzling for the Buffaloes with 380 passing lawns. They’re able to move the ball, however the Tigers’ red zone defense is the distinction. Two times in the fourth quarter, All-America linebacker Barrett Carter develops third-down

stops to ward off Colorado drives.(11 )West Virginia 24,(6 )Wisconsin 20: Neal Brown took a little pay cut before the season so West Virginia could invest more in his coaching staff. That type of generous method permeated the Mountaineers ‘group, and they as soon as again surpass outside expectations to move into

the 2nd round after holding the Badgers to 130 total yards in the 2nd half.(10) Nebraska 23, (7)NC State 21: It was a frustrating finish for Matt Rhule and Nebraska in his very first season in Lincoln. The Huskers lost their last four games, but Rhule has been able to overhaul the lineup. No addition was more crucial than getting quarterback Dylan Raiola to flip from Georgia. Even though he’s a freshman, Raiola plays like a veteran in a return win over the Wolfpack.( 8)Iowa State 31, (9) Washington 24: Don’t ignore Iowa State’s Rocco Becht when you start reeling off the top young quarterbacks in college football. Becht follows up a terrific redshirt freshman season with an even much better sophomore campaign and tosses touchdown passes to 3 receivers to move the Cyclones into the second round.Second round(1)Texas 24, (8)Iowa State 21: This was when a battle of Huge 12 schools, and make no error, this game is the embodiment of a fight. The Cyclones do not pull back versus the heavily preferred Longhorns and keep making clutch third-down stops on defense. However Texas’defense makes the most important stand of the game when Becht’s fourth-down pass from the Longhorns’43 sails

incomplete in the final seconds.(2)Alabama 40,(10 )Nebraska 21: Jalen Milroe does a little bit of whatever for Alabama in its second-round win, even capturing a goal on a throwback pass. The Crimson Tide’s offending line sets the tone early, providing Milroe time to throw and clearing the method for Justice Haynes to hurry for 127 lawns and two touchdowns.( 3) Ole Miss 31,(11 )West Virginia 20: The Portal King, aka Lane Kiffin, continues to have success plugging in brand-new players and having them be a fit. One of the more extremely coveted transfers in the 2024 class, defensive lineman Walter Nolen, keeps West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene repressed the entire game, and the Rebels rise into the Sweet 16.( 4)Arizona 28,(5 )Clemson 26: The Noah Fifita-to-Tetairoa

McMillan connection gives opposing defenses fits all season. Clemson’s defense is no exception. Fifita’s 3rd goal pass of the game, all to McMillan, puts the Wildcats in the lead for excellent early in the 4th quarter. It’s Arizona’s 6th straight win and Brennan’s most significant yet in his first year as the Wildcats ‘coach.Regional semifinals( 1)Texas vs.(4)Arizona(2 )Alabama vs. (3)Ole

Miss