Predicting the winner of the College Football Playoff is often a challenge, especially when looking back at last season’s surprises. Texas, a preseason favorite, missed out entirely on the Playoff. Penn State and Clemson finished their seasons unranked after playing in lesser bowl games. Currently, Ohio State holds the top position in the AP Top 25 and coaches poll and leads the national championship odds according to Austin Mock’s CFP Predictor. However, it’s not the favorite among The Athletic’s college football experts.
College Football Playoff Predictions
The Athletic polled 31 writers and editors on their predictions for the national title, Power 4 championships, the Playoff, and the Heisman Trophy. Over 2,000 readers also shared their championship predictions. The results reveal some intriguing expectations for the season.
Top Predictions and Storylines
Notre Dame stands out, with 41.9% of staff predicting them to win the national championship. This is bolstered by their high rankings in the preseason AP and coaches polls. Ohio State and Oregon are tied as the second favorites, though reader preference slightly leans toward Oregon surpassing Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Three crucial storylines to watch include the roles of Indiana, Arch Manning, and Lane Kiffin. Each brings unique elements to the season that could influence the championship outcomes.
Detailed Predictions
Notre Dame: Staff see a strong alignment of factors, including a robust defense led by All-American cornerback Leonard Moore. With Heisman candidate CJ Carr leading the offense and a favorable schedule, Notre Dame appears well-positioned for success.
Oregon: The sentiment is that Oregon is poised for a breakthrough. With Dan Lanning at the helm and a talented quarterback in Dante Moore, the Ducks aim to overcome past near-misses in title games.
Ohio State: Ohio State is favored for its wealth of talent. Quarterback Julian Sayin’s performance is key, especially given a challenging schedule that includes games at Indiana and USC, followed by hosting Oregon.
Miami: Miami boasts offensive firepower and a bolstered defense. With Darian Mensah as quarterback, they aim for their first ACC title since joining the league.
Texas: Texas faces high expectations. With standout players like Arch Manning and Cam Coleman, coach Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns seek to maintain their competitive edge from recent seasons.
Indiana: Indiana is seen as a top-10 experienced team, despite losing key player Fernando Mendoza. With a schedule favoring home games against Ohio State and USC and avoiding Oregon, they seek consecutive championships.
Georgia: As the SEC hopes to break its national championship drought, Georgia’s solid defense and improved run game position them as strong contenders.
Texas A&M: Despite previous setbacks, Texas A&M fields a balanced team with Rueben Owens II leading the offense, aiming for its first national title since 1939.
Conference Championship Predictions
Predictions for the Power 4 conference champions show varied opinions. Miami stands as the favorite in the ACC, while Texas Tech leads in the Big 12. In the Big Ten, Oregon emerges as the staff favorite, while Ohio State holds a strong position among readers. Texas and Georgia are primary contenders for the SEC title.
Heisman Trophy Predictions
Predicting the Heisman winner is similarly challenging. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith tops the list again this year. With impressive stats, he leads the predictions over players like Oregon’s Dante Moore, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, and Texas’ Arch Manning.
Bold Predictions
Bold predictions include Miami’s Malachi Toney achieving a rare feat of scoring touchdowns in multiple ways in a single game and Michigan facing a challenging season despite its talent. Other predictions foresee surprises in conference outcomes and potential shifts in playoff selections and format.