In Grapevine, Texas, a hypothetical scenario explored what could have been if Florida State had the opportunity to compete in a 12-team college football playoff. The exercise highlighted the differences between rankings and seedings in the playoff selection process. In the mock session, it was revealed that being ranked in the top four did not guarantee a top-four seed in the playoff bracket, leading to some surprises and exclusions.

The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee will release weekly top 25 rankings over seven rounds of balloting, with the final ranking determining the playoff teams. The expanded playoff format now includes the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams overall. Ranking and seeding teams for the playoff have distinct criteria, which may lead to unexpected placements in the bracket.

During the mock exercise, teams were seeded according to their conference affiliations after establishing the top 25 ranking. Parameters such as conference champions receiving top-four seeds and conference contractual agreements for bowl placements were taken into consideration. This process resulted in a bracket that featured matchups like Oregon vs. Ohio State, Liberty vs. Michigan, Missouri vs. Georgia, and Penn State vs. Alabama, with potential semifinal matchups at stake.

The exercise provided insight into the complexities of selecting and seeding teams for an expanded playoff format. It demonstrated that assumptions based on rankings alone might not align with actual seedings in the playoff bracket. Despite the hypothetical nature of the exercise, it offered an intriguing glimpse into the potential dynamics of a larger college football playoff system.