CBS Sports projects 12-team College Football Playoff field ahead of Week 3

CBS Sports is taking a swing at projecting a hypothetical 12-team College Football Playoff field ahead of Week 3 of the regular season. While we’re still a year away from the 12-team Playoff, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports decided to see what the expanded Playoff would look like anyway.

While the Power 5 conference champions are currently slated to receive the top five spots, Palm relented that could change with the Pac-12 potentially going away, “There is a legitimate chance that format will be adjusted to account for the demise of the Pac-12,” Palm wrote. “That could result in something as simple as guaranteeing playoff spots for only the top five conference champions (with seven at-large bids) or something more drastic, such as doing away with automatic qualifiers entirely.”

Nevertheless, it’s fun to dream up scenarios for the 2023 season, even if these teams won’t compete for 12 spots, as only four will be available for the College Football Playoff at the end of this campaign. Here’s where Palm has each team slotting in at the moment.

No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs | Bye Week

The top team in any format at the moment is Georgia. Kirby Smart’s squad is the reigning back-to-back champions of the college football world, and have shown no signs of slowing down at the moment.

Even a quarterback change hasn’t hampered the Bulldogs thus far, as Carson Beck has picked up right where Stetson Bennett IV left off. His toughest test yet comes this weekend in the South Carolina Gamecocks, but many are expecting Georgia to continue rolling over the competition.

No. 2 Michigan Wolverines | Bye Week

The suspension of Jim Harbaugh hasn’t slowed Michigan’s urge to for a three-peat in the Big Ten. Thus far in 2023, the Wolverines look like the team to beat in the conference, which would likely secure them a place in the College Football Playoff.

Once again, Michigan is a gigantic favorite entering Week 3, with some outlets having the spread as large as 40-points for the Wolverines against Bowling Green. Quarterback JJ McCarthy has been near-perfect, and his Heisman campaign will likely continue through Saturday night.

No. 3 Florida State Seminoles | Bye Week

Mike Norvell’s team announced themselves to the college football world with their second straight victory over the LSU Tigers to open the season. Week 2 left no doubt that the Seminoles are one of the best teams in the nation, as they defeated Southern Mississippi by a score of 66-13.

In Week 3, Florida State will travel North to take on Boston College, but they can’t look past the Eagles. While the Seminoles should handle their business, a Week 4 matchup with the Clemson Tigers holds much, much more weight.

No. 4 Texas Longhorns | Bye Week

Texas captured the biggest win of the college football season thus far last weekend. The Longhorn waltzed into Tuscaloosa, looked the best coach in the world in the eye in Nick Saban and didn’t blink, and walked out victorious.

In Week 3, the Longhorns return home as heroes, taking on the Wyoming Cowboys. As Big 12 play begins in Week 4, everyone will want a shot — potentially their last for a long time — at defeating Texas, so Steve Sarkisian and company will have to bring their best, week-in and week-out.

No. 12 Tulane Green Wave at No. 5 USC Trojans | Winner plays Texas

The first matchup in Palm’s hypothetical College Football Playoff is a familiar one, as Tulane and USC faced off in last season’s Cotton Bowl Classic. The Green Wave got the better of the Trojans that fateful afternoon, as Tulane held on to a one-point victory, one of the biggest in program history.

The Trojans are hoping to get to the College Football Playoff in 2023, as it’s likely their final shot with reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams. Meanwhile, Tulane is hoping to get back to their winning ways in Week 3, as the Green Wave fell to Ole Miss in Week 2, although it was a valiant battle.

No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers at No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes | Winner plays Florida State

This is a matchup every college football fan would immediately sign up for. The offensive onslaught between the Volunteers and the Buckeyes would be something to behold.

While it’s potentially a year away, Tennessee and Ohio State are both dealing with growing pains at the quarterback position at the moment. Nevertheless, both are undefeated entering Week 3, and Joe Milton and Kyle McCord seem to be figuring it out, little by little.

No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions | Winner plays Michigan

The Crimson Tide and Nittany Lions couldn’t be in more different spots at the moment. Alabama is trying to hold on to their place at the top of college football, or at least near it, and Penn State is looking to finally break through their glass ceiling.

Right now, the biggest difference in their play looks to be the quarterback position. While the Crimson Tide’s is far from settled, and they may be playing the hot-hand all season long, the Nittany Lions are locked in with Drew Allar, believing he’s the prince that was promised to bring them to the College Football Playoff.

No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 8 Washington Huskies | Winner plays Georgia

The Fighting Irish and Huskies both have utilized the transfer portal to bring star quarterbacks to town, and it’s paying dividends. Michael Penix Jr. has been a revelation for Washington, while Notre Dame’s offense is looking potent as ever, helmed by Sam Hartman.

The Huskies have a tough matchup this weekend against Michigan State, and will run the gauntlet of Pac-12 squads later in the season. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has a slight reprieve in Week 3 with Central Michigan, but they’ll have to be prepared for Week 4, as the Fighting Irish will welcome Ohio State to South Bend for one of the most electric matchups of 2023.

As you can see, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports crafted some tremendous matchups for a hypothetical 12-team College Football Playoff, which all makes sense due to the current AP Top 25 Poll, as well. While we’ll be moving it down to four in 2023, the future featuring an expended Playoff is an exciting one, and one that we can’t wait to get to.