College Football Playoff: How would an 8-team playoff pan out?

Tonight gave us the first College Football Playoff rankings; what would an eight-team playoff look like?

This is the seventh year of the College Football Playoff. Due to its late start and so many teams, there was some talk of expanding the playoff this season because of COVID and so many possible scheduling issues, but the Committee shut that down. After the first rankings tonight, an eight-game playoff would be interesting. Here is what an expanded playoff would look like.

The College Football Playoff field:

1. Alabama (7-0)

The Alabama Crimson Tide are one of the few teams that has found a way to be consistent this season. Quarterback Mac Jones leads an offense that features future NFL prospects DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris and Alex Leatherwood. Defensively the Crimson Tide is improved from last season with one of the better secondaries in the country led by Patrick Surtain II. The Crimson Tide came in one of the favorites to make the Playoff this season and have not disappointed.

2. Notre Dame (8-0)

Brian Kelly wanted to get back to the “DNA” of Notre Dame football — physical in the trenches and a power running game. The Fighting Irish are 16th in the country in rushing offense led by Kyren Williams, and they have the fifth-ranked rushing defense. The Irish also boast one of the better pass rushes in college football, with 21 sacks this season. Quarterback Ian Book proved his worth in the Irish’s win against Clemson. With a solid defense and consistent running game, the Irish are difficult to beat.

3. Clemson (7-1)

The Tigers have had to overcome injuries — including a career-threatening injury to wide receiver Justyn Ross — and COVID-19 issues to Xavier Bennett and Trevor Lawrence to get where they are. This Clemson team is battle-hardened by on and off the field circumstances they’ve dealt with this season. Make no mistake, the Tigers are as dangerous as ever. Lawrence is back from quarantine, and running back Travis Etienne is one of the best in the country. Despite their loss to Notre Dame, the Tigers are favored to get to the ACC title game and a possible rematch against the Irish.

4. Ohio State (4-0)

When you watch the Buckeyes play football, it seems as if everyone can run. Even their lineman can run. Ohio State has to be one of the fastest teams in the country. Heisman-candidate Justin Fields is completing nearly 80 percent of his passes with a four-to-one touchdown to interception ratio. The defense is solid though they have not found their Bosa/Young dominant pass rusher just yet. Ohio State had a couple of close calls against Rutgers and Indiana. The Buckeyes have not peaked just yet, but they will.

5. Texas A&M (5-1)

This is exactly what the boosters in College Station paid $75 million for. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has the Aggies in prime position for a playoff spot if any of the top four falter. Coming into the season, quarterback Kellen Mond and the defense were supposed to be limiting factors to the Aggies’ progress this season. Mond has played the best football of his Texas A&M career with the best completion percentage and possibly a career-high in touchdown passes. The defense is exponentially better against the run and has shown an improved pass rush.

6. Florida (6-1)

The Gators feature Heisman Trophy candidate Kyle Trask. The Texas native has a Joe Burrow-like rise up on both Heisman and NFL draft boards. The Gators possess one of the most dynamic passing attacks in the country. Kyle Pitts is slated to return to action this week, which is bad news for opposing defensive coordinators. The defense, which lost many starters last season, is playing surprisingly well. With an offense as prolific as the Gators’, the defense only needs to be average for them to have a chance to win.

7. Cincinnati (7-0)

The Bearcats are the lone Group of Five representative in these expanded playoffs. Don’t let where they play have you think they don’t belong. The Bearcats have one of the best — if not the best — secondaries in all of college football. At least three secondary members will play on Sundays after their playing days at Cincinnati are done. The offense, however, is not to be outdone. Quarterback Desmond Ridder has found another gear, playing the best football of his career and leaning into being a dual-threat quarterback with 1826 passing yards, 526 rushing, and 27 total touchdowns. A good defense and a running game can keep you in a football game and the Bearcats have them both.

8. Northwestern (5-0)

The “Fighting Rece Davises” find themselves as the No. 8 seed in our expanded playoffs. If hall-of-fame wrestling announcer Jim Ross were to describe the Northwestern style play, the phrases “slobber knocker” and “bowling shoe ugly” would likely be used a lot. The Wildcats have taken on the DNA of their head coach. Northwestern is not the biggest or the fastest, but they are tough. The ‘Cats don’t beat themselves; they are among the least penalized teams in the country. The Wildcats are often overmatched and outmanned when playing the elite teams in college football but don’t tell them that.

Here are the quarterfinal matchups and results:

1. Alabama v. 8. Northwestern:

In this first-round matchup, the Crimson Tide are overwhelmingly the better team. Northwestern’s defense is legit, but the Wildcats are going to find it hard to score points against an athletically superior defense. Northwestern gives Alabama all they can handle for a half, maybe two and a half quarters before Alabama’s superior talent and depth consume Northwestern.

Score: Alabama 38, Northwestern 10

2. Notre Dame v. 7. Cincinnati

This is a strength-on-strength match-up. Both teams like to run the football and play smothering defense. Both have quarterbacks who can make plays in the running game. Cincinnati’s first 11 can compete with Notre Dame’s first 11 but Notre Dame has the advantage in two areas. Notre Dame’s tight ends and big Ben Skowronek — a wider receiver in a tight end’s body — are a matchup nightmare for Cincinnati’s linebackers and safeties. Also, Notre Dame is deeper than Cincinnati. The Irish depth is superior to Cincinnati’s and they pull away late.

Score: Notre Dame 27, Cincinnati 17

3. Clemson v. 6. Florida

This is an interesting matchup. Both offenses feature big time quarterbacks in Trevor Lawrence and Kyle Trask. Kyle Pitts is one of the best tight ends in  the country and Travis Etienne is one of the best running backs in the country. This game comes down to which team defends best. Both teams are going to score on one another, but it is hard not to trust Brent Venebles in this situation. In addition, the Gators offensive line has some holes. Good first-round game, but no upset.

Score: Clemson 45, Florida 30

4. Ohio State v. 5. Texas A&M

How different would last season’s national semifinal be if Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields had two healthy knees against Clemson? This season, Fields has two healthy knees and is playing like a Heisman trophy candidate. It is hard not to like what the Aggies are doing on both sides of the ball. Kellen Mond has grown as a quarterback and the defense has shown improvement. When it comes down to it, do you trust Kellen Mond or Justin Field? The Georgia transfer has played well in big games where Mond hasn’t. This could be the game of the first round with the Buckeyes pulling away late.

Score: Ohio State: 37, Texas A&M 28