If this is the last 12-team playoff, it would be a damn shame. That’s been a good number and a good format, even if the championship game is way too late in the calendar. Regardless, here’s the bracket on stone tablets for the selection committee to copy come December:
College Football Playoff Projections After Week Zero
- Notre Dame
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Texas
- Miami
- Mississippi
- Texas A&M
- USC
- BYU
- Navy
First round
- No. 12 Navy at No. 5 Oregon
- No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Texas
- No. 10 USC at No. 7 Miami
- No. 9 Texas A&M at No. 8 Mississippi
Quarterfinals
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Ohio State
- No. 6 Texas vs. No. 3 Georgia
- No. 7 Miami vs. No. 2 Indiana
- No. 8 Mississippi vs. No. 1 Notre Dame
Semifinals
- No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Notre Dame
- No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 2 Indiana
Final
- No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 1 Notre Dame
National champion
- Notre Dame
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