As two months of college football concludes, we are about to witness the initial unveiling of the new 12-team playoff bracket’s rankings. This event will provide insight into whether the committee responsible for these rankings has been attentive to the season’s developments. Oregon, currently undefeated and ranked unanimously as No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25, is expected to lead the way when the first set of weekly rankings is released on Tuesday evening.

However, there are other unbeaten teams in contention, such as Miami, BYU, and Indiana, which leaves room for speculation about the committee’s choices. The committee has established that while wins and losses are significant, they are only part of the criteria used to determine the top 25. Ultimately, this list will serve as a foundation for placing teams into the final playoff bracket, which will be unveiled on December 8.

Another crucial aspect that will influence the rankings is the strength of schedule. This will allow teams with a single loss, like Ohio State and Georgia, to potentially be positioned ahead of several unbeaten teams.

This year marks a significant change in the college football playoff system, moving from the previous four-team format to a 12-team setup. This expansion aims to better determine a national champion, with the added games sold to ESPN for $7.8 billion influencing the decision. Thirteen committee members will analyze the first ten weeks of the season to rank teams from 1 to 25. However, these rankings won’t be finalized until December 8, the date of the final poll, which is when the teams will be placed into the bracket according to their rankings.

One of the key questions regarding the new playoff format is the allocation of spots. The top five ranked conference champions are guaranteed playoff positions regardless of their ranking in the polls. Additionally, the top four conference champions will receive first-round byes. For instance, if BYU secures a win in the Big 12 and is ranked ninth in the rankings, they will automatically ascend to the fourth slot in the playoff bracket since the top four conference champions are ensured byes. Furthermore, if Boise State wins the Mountain West and falls below the twelfth rank but is the highest-ranked Group of Five team, they will also make it into the playoff. There will be seven at-large selections available, and there are no limits on how many at-large bids any conference can achieve.

In terms of potential ramifications from the first set of rankings, if Oregon does not secure the top position, it could indicate that the committee members have diverged from mainstream opinion. The Ducks have triumphed over five Big Ten teams by significant margins and also have a narrow victory against Ohio State, currently ranked third in the AP poll.

This will also be a telling moment for Notre Dame, which, despite being 7-1 with a loss against Northern Illinois, holds an independent status without the chance to win a conference title or obtain a bye. Indiana, on the other hand, remains undefeated at 9-0 but will face skepticism regarding their schedule until their matchup against Ohio State on November 23.

Once the bracket is established on December 8, several events are set to take place:
— Teams seeded fifth through eighth will host ninth through twelfth seed teams for first-round games on their campuses, scheduled for December 20 (one game) and December 21 (three games).
— The quarterfinals are planned to occur during traditional bowl games on December 31 (Fiesta Bowl) and January 1 (Peach, Rose, Sugar), aligning top seeds with current bowl tie-ins, such as the Big Ten champion participating in the Rose Bowl and the SEC champion likely heading for the Sugar Bowl.
— Semifinal matches will also be held in bowl games, specifically on January 9 at the Orange Bowl and January 10 at the Cotton Bowl.
— Finally, the championship game is slated to occur at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20.

As fans prepare for the new playoff format, it promises to bring excitement and anticipation to the college football landscape this season.