The 2024 season of the 12-team College Football Playoff certainly turned heads with its undeniable success. While the initial round saw its fair share of one-sided games, the excitement in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the National Championship Game affirmed the CFP Committee’s decision to boost the lineup from four teams to 12. Intriguingly, the two semifinal clashes involved four teams that hadn’t snagged the top four seeds.
Ohio State, entering as the eighth seed, defied all odds, stormed through the competition, and clinched its first national title in ten years. Urban Meyer, who previously helmed both Florida and Ohio State, commended the CFP’s revamped format but hinted at a possible tweak in the seeding for the 2025 edition.
In a recent appearance on "The Triple Option" podcast, Meyer expressed his thoughts: "I don’t want to overemphasize it, but seeing teams like Boise and Arizona State getting a bye, despite their great seasons, felt a bit unearned. I’ve heard next year might not play out that way," as initially reported by On3.
For this season, the top four seeds—Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State—were rewarded with first-round byes. However, each fell in the quarterfinals, sparking debates on whether this system truly benefits the top seeds. It’s expected to be a hot topic for the CFP Committee during the offseason, as many fans and media personalities weren’t thrilled with the automatic quarterfinal spots for the top seeds.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Ohio State aims to defend its title, beginning their campaign against Texas on August 30. They’ll face fierce competition with a lineup of formidable teams including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Notre Dame, and more jostling for that coveted top spot.
Buckle up; it’s shaping up to be an electrifying season!
As an aside, the SEC continues to dominate the toughest schedule rankings—something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
