Predictions for the College Football Playoff Season

Predicting the College Football Playoff winner is a challenging task. Last year’s preseason projections missed the mark when top-ranked teams like Texas and Penn State didn’t make it far. Ohio State currently holds the No. 1 position in both the AP Top 25 and coaches poll. Despite this, The Athletic’s college football staff doesn’t see them as the favorite.

Reader and Staff Predictions

Notre Dame leads in staff predictions with 41.9% support, while readers and models consider Oregon and Ohio State strong contenders too. Notably, 13 staff members predict Notre Dame will break its 38-year title drought this year.

• Notre Dame: Supported by its strong defense and capable quarterback CJ Carr, expectations are high for the Irish under coach Marcus Freeman.
• Oregon: With standout quarterback Dante Moore and consistent past performances, they remain a favorite despite past title losses.
• Ohio State: Known for its talent-rich roster, QB Julian Sayin’s improvement is pivotal for their success.

Heisman Trophy Predictions

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith tops the list of potential Heisman winners. Despite being a wide receiver, his past performance has been exceptional, with a notable number of catches and touchdowns.

• Jeremiah Smith (WR)
• Dante Moore (QB)
• CJ Carr (QB)
• Arch Manning (QB)

Power 4 Conference Championships

Picks for conference winners vary:

• ACC: Miami is the frontrunner, even with rebuilding challenges.
• Big 12: Texas Tech leads, backed by significant roster investments.
• Big Ten: Oregon and Ohio State are the main contenders.
• SEC: Both Texas and Georgia are top choices, with the conference’s nine-game schedule impacting predictions.

Playoff Predictions

Nine teams received significant support to make the Playoff. Notre Dame and Oregon were the only unanimous selections, closely followed by Ohio State and other teams.

Bold Predictions

Our panelists shared bold insights for the season:

• Miami’s Malachi Toney could achieve multiple touchdowns across different play types in one game.
• Cal’s QB may contend for the Heisman, though team playoff hopes could be dashed by a schedule strength bias.
• Syracuse might be a contender for the ACC championship game under surprising conditions.
• Speculation surrounds coaches and their job security based on season outcomes.