Predicting the Final Four of college football in 2024
The eyes of the sports world are firmly focused on the Final Four as the 2024 Men’s and Women’s Tournaments take center stage, with the best teams left in America looking to play for the national championship. With the Final Four in mind, especially with spring practice taking place across the country, let’s turn our focus to some early college football predictions.
The recent phase of conference realignment has forced the College Football Playoff into a change even before it had a chance to debut its expanded postseason, revealing the 5+7 model that includes the five highest-ranked conference champions in addition to seven at-large teams.
Here’s a look at SI’s early college football bracketology, with our picks for the Final Four teams on the gridiron when the 2024 postseason gets underway.
First, our projected rankings
*Denotes conference champion
- Georgia*
- Ohio State*
- Clemson*
- Utah*
- Texas
- Oregon
- Alabama
- Michigan
- Ole Miss
- Notre Dame
- Penn State
- Liberty*
Then, our 12-team bracket
Projected winners in bold
(12) Liberty
(5) Texas
Winner plays No. 4 Utah
(11) Penn State
(6) Oregon
Winner plays No. 3 Clemson
(10) Notre Dame
(7) Alabama
Winner plays No. 2 Ohio State
(9) Ole Miss
(8) Michigan
Winner plays No. 1 Georgia
Next, our Final Four
Texas. Our fifth-ranked team, and projected SEC runner-up will defeat Utah in the quarterfinal round and move onto the national semifinal behind its well-oiled offense led by quarterback Quinn Ewers and transfer receivers Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden.
Oregon. We expect the Ducks to get past Clemson in the quarterfinals thanks to a dynamic offense with quarterback Dillon Gabriel and transfer wideout Evan Stewart leading the way, and Oregon's physical defense getting the better of a Tigers offense that still lacks a play-making receiver.
Ohio State. Thanks in part to an Alabama transfer, safety Caleb Downs, and other additions like quarterback Will Howard and tailback Quinshon Judkins, the Buckeyes have the firepower to get a close win over the Crimson Tide in this SEC vs. Big Ten playoff battle and move onto the Final Four.
Georgia. Our projected SEC champion has the young pieces on defense and the skill talent on offense, led by quarterback Carson Beck and tailback Trevor Etienne, to get past the Rebels' improved defensive unit and qualify for the semifinal.
- (5) Texas over (4) Utah
- (6) Oregon over (3) Clemson
- (2) Ohio State over (7) Alabama
- (1) Georgia over (9) Ole Miss
National Championship
(2) Ohio State
vs.
(1) Georgia
College Football HQ National Champion Pick: Ohio State... The Buckeyes made history as the first-ever CFP national champion, and can again as the first expanded CFP winner a decade later, thanks to a roster that added crucial skill at needed positions and boasts a vastly improved defensive unit.
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