Here’s our explanation for the seedings.
1. Notre Dame will beat Miami, beat SMU, and end up 11-1.
2. Georgia will run the table, including the SEC Championship, but will be just behind the Irish because they’ll be the only team to beat Miami.
3. Miami will finally win an ACC Championship and finish 12-1.
4. Ohio State will limp into the Big Ten Championship and will beat UCLA.
5. After beating BYU, Utah will be upset at Arizona. The Utes will still go on to beat Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship.
6. Indiana will get by USC, at Washington, and Purdue to finish 11-1.
7. UCLA will get to the Big Ten Championship and lose.
8. LSU – this is the big call because this hinges on beating Tennessee in Knoxville. The Tigers win out, but lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship.
9. Iowa isn’t pretty, but it doesn’t lose the rest of the way and finishes 10-2.
10. BYU loses to Utah and finishes 10-2, but it doesn’t go to the Big 12 Championship. However, it will be the one team that beat Notre Dame to take the last at-large spot.
11. Texas – and here’s where the CFP breaks the three regular-season loss (before the conference championships) precedent. Texas loses at LSU, but finishes 9-3 with wins over Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee to earn this spot.
12. New Mexico runs the table, including the Mountain West Championship. Boise State loses once along the way, either to Oregon State, or in the Pac-12 Championship. (BUT, Boise State is here if it runs the table.
1. Notre Dame will beat Miami, beat SMU, and end up 11-1.
2. Georgia will run the table, including the SEC Championship, but will be just behind the Irish because they’ll be the only team to beat Miami.
3. Miami will finally win an ACC Championship and finish 12-1.
4. Ohio State will limp into the Big Ten Championship and will beat UCLA.
5. After beating BYU, Utah will be upset at Arizona. The Utes will still go on to beat Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship.
6. Indiana will get by USC, at Washington, and Purdue to finish 11-1.
7. UCLA will get to the Big Ten Championship and lose.
8. LSU – this is the big call because this hinges on beating Tennessee in Knoxville. The Tigers win out, but lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship.
9. Iowa isn’t pretty, but it doesn’t lose the rest of the way and finishes 10-2.
10. BYU loses to Utah and finishes 10-2, but it doesn’t go to the Big 12 Championship. However, it will be the one team that beat Notre Dame to take the last at-large spot.
11. Texas – and here’s where the CFP breaks the three regular-season loss (before the conference championships) precedent. Texas loses at LSU, but finishes 9-3 with wins over Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee to earn this spot.
12. New Mexico runs the table, including the Mountain West Championship. Boise State loses once along the way, either to Oregon State, or in the Pac-12 Championship. (BUT, Boise State is here if it runs the table.
