Ranking novice College Football Playoff contenders

• Heather Dinich, ESPN

  • Senior WriterAug 8, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Close College football press reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said the senior citizens on his roster are eagerly anticipating being able to “control their own destiny” when it concerns reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff– unlike previously, he said, when they “needed to depend on outside assistance” in the four-team format.This year, the 5 highest-ranked conference champs are guaranteed an area in the CFP, which suggests the winners of the Big 12, Big Ten, SEC and ACC are probably locks (barring some improbable circumstance in which a 2nd Group of 5 conference champ is ranked ahead of among them).

Which implies the Huge 12 champion remains in. (And in case you missed it, Utah is now in the Big 12).

“We’re definitely thrilled about the new playoff format and the chance to make the playoffs by yourself merit, and not to be voted by a committee to enter into that exclusive club,” Whittingham said.Wellll … the committee is still there. And it will still rank 25 groups every week. Due to the fact that if a competitor doesn’t win its league? The committee’s next seven-highest ranked teams are in.The entire system, though, is more inclusive.

It’s more flexible. And Utah isn’t the only team in the nation that now has a legitimate chance to make the CFP for the first time. Ranked in order from best-to-worst opportunities (according to ESPN Analytics), here are eight teams that might get their very first chance at betting the national title in the CFP age. In 2015’s record: 10-3 Highest CFP ranking: No. 4 on Nov. 5, 2019 ESPN Analytics

: 59.1 %opportunity to make playoff