#college-football-playoff

#college-football-playoff

Below you'll find one team in the spotlight for each of the Power 4 leagues and another identified as an enigma. We've also tiered schools into four groups. Teams with Would be in status are featured in this week's top 12 projection, a snapshot of what the selection committee's ranking would look like if it were released today. A team with Work to do is passing the eye test (for the most part) and has a chance at winning its conference, which means a guaranteed spot in the playoff. And a team that Would be out is playing in the shadows of the playoff -- for now.

One of the most anticipated weekends on the 2025 college football calendar is upon us. The headliner comes Saturday night when No. 6 Oregon visits No. 3 Penn State. A potentially season-defining occasion, the clash of Big Ten powers, will test quarterbacks Drew Allar (Penn State) and Dante Moore (Oregon), Nittany Lions coach James Franklin and the Ducks' backbone as they step into the hostile confines of Beaver Stadium in Week 5.

The 12-team College Football Playoff has significantly broadened the pool of candidates to include any team that has a chance to win its conference -- and that makes every FBS race matter longer, as the selection committee's five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff. Heading into the final Saturday of September, the shifting continues as conference races are just beginning to heat up.

TAMPA, Fla. -- USF coach Alex Golesh repeated the same thing after both of his team's first two wins -- a stunning blowout in the season opener against Boise State, and another shocker last weekend against Florida -- "This ain't the same ol' South Florida, my brother!" The 2-0 Bulls are ranked for the first time since 2018, notched the first win in school history over the Gators and are an early favorite to win the Group of 5 automatic berth into the College Football Playoff.

Noah Whittington scores a 59-yard touchdown for the Ducks, which is quickly followed by a 65-yard pass by Dante Moore to Dakorien Moore that gives Oregon the early lead over Oklahoma State. (0:45) We're still months from the College Football Playoff, but we've already seen some big wins by the favorites to reach the 12-team tournament and some crucial losses by teams in last year's CFP.

Week 1 is wrapping up and we've seen plenty of surprise performances -- and some room for growth. Texas quarterback Arch Manning showed against Ohio State that there's room to improve when it comes to his decision-making, accuracy and timing. Meanwhile, Utah's new-look offense -- with a new offensive coordinator and starting quarterback -- showed that it might be the team to beat in a wide-open Big 12 title race.

Following public uproar over the potential end of their 100-year old football rivalry, USC has made an amended offer to Notre Dame that would extend their annual series for multiple years beyond this season, USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen told The Times. Negotiations remain ongoing between the two schools, but Cohen said she is "really hopeful" that USC's new offer, which better accommodates Notre Dame's preference for a long-term deal, would lead to an agreement "very soon."

If there's one thing we've learned from the debate between the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12 over the future of the College Football Playoff, it's that committees are awful. They get it wrong nearly every year despite the fact that they've mostly gotten it right.

"Do I want to play the game? Hell yeah, I want to play the game," Riley said. "It's one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I'm the head coach of USC."

The College Football Playoff selection process is fraught with potential conflicts of interest, leading to widespread distrust among stakeholders in college football.

The move to a direct seeding model for the College Football Playoff benefits powerhouse conferences like the Big Ten and SEC while disadvantaging others.

The College Football Playoff will switch to a straight seeding model starting in 2025, reserving five spots for conference champions, avoiding previous bye rounds.

"Beginning this fall, the College Football Playoff will adopt a straight seeding model, rewarding the top four teams with a first-round bye, a significant shift from the previous system."

This, in part, is what drove the Colts to select Tuimoloau in the second round of the NFL draft (45th pick) last month, providing them with a player they believe won't shrink at the biggest moments.

Cignetti emphasized the pivotal role of football in shaping the identity and success of Indiana, noting that last year's achievements have instilled a new belief within the fanbase.

Danielson now has a five-year contract averaging $2.2 million, reflecting his success with Boise State that includes a College Football Playoff appearance.