The 2024 college football season is just a few days away at this point, and the anticipation of the year to come is almost more than fans can bear.
There is a tremendous amount of change coming to the sport this season, with unprecedented levels of conference realignment, new in-game rules such as two-minute warnings and sideline use of tablets, and of course, the expansion of the College Football Playoff from four teams to 12.
The 12-team field will undoubtedly be the main topic of conversation this fall, as several teams are likely to make their first appearance in the CFP. Before the action even begins, we’re getting a glimpse of what college football experts think the field will look like.
On3’s Andy Staples released a Preseason College Football Playoff Bracketology and two Big 12 teams made an appearance on the list.
Staples pegged Kansas State as the Big 12 Champion and the No. 4 seed in the Playoff, pitting them against the winner of No. 5 Alabama and No. 12 Boise State. The Wildcats are the only Big 12 team to make the 12-team field in Staples’ prediction, but they aren’t the only team to make an appearance.
” [Will] Howard is Ohio State’s starting quarterback because the Wildcats decided to roll with sophomore Avery Johnson,” Staples says. “College football hasn’t seen a QB this fast since Kyler Murray. The question is whether Johnson’s arm can complement his legs. If it can, Kansas State’s offense and a deep defense can win a league that is incredibly balanced and could be a bloodbath come November.”
Utah, who has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the Big 12, checks in among the First Four Out, at No. 15.
“Cam Rising led the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 titles during his last healthy seasons,” Staples writes. “Will he have to win a Big 12 title to get Utah into the CFP, or could the Big 12 get an at-large team into the bracket?”
If Rising can stay healthy, there’s a very good chance Utah is in the discussion to make the College Football Playoff, but that’s been a tough task over each of the last two seasons. Still, any CFP projection without the Big 12 favorite in contention would be null and void.
