College Football Playoff Predictions: Projecting full 2024 CFP field, national champion
The College Football Playoff predictions are in from On3’s JD PicKell as he projected the full field and went round-by-round.
This is the first season with the 12-team bracket, opening up new possibilities. Heck, there might be some familiarity with some of these teams once we get deeper into the tournament.
Below are PicKell’s College Football Playoff projections in terms of the full field and the national champion.
College Football Playoff field
1. Georgia (SEC Champion)
2. Oregon (Big Ten Champion)
3. Miami (ACC Champion)
4. Utah (Big 12 Champion)
5. Ole Miss
6. Ohio State
7. Florida State
8. Texas
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. Tennessee
12. Appalachian State (Sun Belt Champion)
The top four are the projected conference champions, per PicKell. Oregon is a popular Big Ten pick, but not like Ohio State according to most. The Ducks get the nod and PicKell is high on the Hurricanes to win the ACC and break out in Year 3 of Mario Cristobal. Utah will win the Big 12 in its first year in the conference. The rest are at-large bids, plus App State from the Group of Five.
College Football Playoff First Round
No. 5 Ole Miss over No. 12 App State
No. 6 Ohio State over No. 11 Tennessee
No. 10 Alabama over No. 7 Florida State
No. 8 Texas over No. 9 Notre Dame
The Cinderella run for App State will end before it gets started, per PicKell. Ole Miss just has too much firepower. Ohio State hosting Tennessee at the Horseshoe will be fun, but the Buckeyes get that one.
PicKell’s only upset is Alabama going into Tallahassee and knocking off the Seminoles. That’ll be a tough pill to swallow for Mike Norvell, but Kalen DeBoer will add to his playoff resume. Texas meanwhile, takes out Notre Dame in a matchup of historic college football brands.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
No. 1 Georgia over No. 8 Texas
No. 5 Ole Miss over No. 4 Utah
No. 2 Oregon over No. 10 Alabama
No. 6 Ohio State over No. 3 Miami
Now to the neutral site games in the quarterfinals as Georgia beats out new SEC foe Texas and will get a semifinal rematch with Ole Miss. PicKell has Lane Kiffin and company upsetting Big 12 champ Utah and Kyle Whittingham. A battle of an immovable object and unstoppable force it seems.
On the flip side of the bracket, Dan Lanning’s team is just too much for DeBoer and Alabama. The coaches are familiar with one another, but Oregon gets the last laugh this time. Another upset comes though with Ohio State taking out ACC champion Miami. Unfortunately for Mario Cristobal, it’s a one and done year.
College Football Playoff Semifinal: No. 1 Georgia over No. 5 Ole Miss
“It’s Kirby. I think that’s the difference,” PicKell said. “I love Lane Kiffin, I love Jaxson Dart, I love the roster talent that they now have at Ole Miss. But I think that Georgia again, getting more data, the more times you play Georgia, I don’t think it actually benefits you.”
PicKell has Georgia beating Ole Miss in the regular season, the SEC Championship Game and the CFP? Man that’s brutal for Lane Kiffin.
College Football Playoff Semifinal: No. 2 Oregon over No. 6 Ohio State
“Do I really have Oregon beating Ohio State three times? That’s ridiculous. That’s ridiculous, right? We’re a little bit ridiculous on the show. Just full transparency,” PicKell said. “That’s kind of how we operate. So I think Oregon beats Ohio State again, quarterback play, and arguably that bye with Oregon being more fresh makes the difference.”
Just like the other semifinal, Ryan Day is going to be kicking himself for losing to Oregon three times this season. Regular season, Big Ten title game and in the CFP semifinals. It’s the Ducks’ destiny this year, at least to this point.
College Football Playoff National Championship: No. 1 Georgia over No. 2 Oregon
“So it’s kind of poetic they have to run it back in Atlanta for the national title game,” PicKell said. “Oregon will have better players than when they met Georgia the first time around. Make no mistake about it. They will be a much better unit. However, the experience factor for Kirby Smart in national title games, Carson Beck in big stages, the depth on the line of scrimmage I think slightly favors Georgia in this game.
“I think the consistency of Carson Beck ends up making the difference. And the versatility of Georgia makes the difference. I think Georgia beats Oregon and wins the national championship.”
And now we get to a matchup, we think, a lot of people want to see for all of the marbles. Remember when Lanning took over Oregon and got his teeth kicked in by his former boss? Well it won’t be that bad this time. Kirby Smart is still the current king of college football though, and Georgia wins its third title in four years.
The predictions are in and the season is right around the corner. For PicKell’s full predictions and breakdown of each conference, click HERE.