The college football season is underway so the countdown to the college football playoff begins. Each week the TCI staff will give their predictions for which four teams will make the college playoff.
Here are the predictions after week one.
Robert MacRae – These predictions will obviously change a lot as the season progresses. Ohio State showed with their win at Virginia Tech that they are one of the teams to beat this season. They are one of my teams. Alabama is my second team. They have the normal great defense, but also now have one of the nation’s top running backs in the fold. I look for the Tide to win the SEC and make the playoff. TCU is my third choice right now. They didn’t look great in week one, but are loaded with the talent we saw last season. If they can run the table in the Big 12 they should make the football dance this season. My final prediction right now would be the winner of the Clemson game against Notre Dame. Whoever wins that game will likely run the table and make the playoff. The PAC 12 took some hits in week one with losses by Arizona State and Stanford. I don’t think they will have a team that runs the table this season.
William Qualkinbush – After a full week’s worth of action, I see no reason why there would be any change to my final four playoff teams. My national champion TCU handled what I knew would be a tough test on the road at Minnesota. Ohio State did Ohio State things to Virginia Tech, although much of it did happen after the Hokies were deflated by a QB injury. With that being said, the Buckeyes won’t face a tougher test all season, with the possible exception of a home contest with Michigan State. Auburn looked fine in its opener against Louisville, frankly dominating the game until taking its foot off the gas pedal late. My most controversial pick, Notre Dame, certainly looked the part, didn’t it? I mean, how many other teams in the country can say they forced a coordinator change? I can answer that: none. Props to the Fighting Irish for a dominant opening win over Texas.
Hale McGranahan – I’m not any different the rest of the college football watching world. Ohio State is my No. 1 seed. If we’re basing this strictly off of results in last weekend’s opening slate of games, Alabama is my second-seeded team. They were awfully impressive against Wisconsin. But, then again, this is a Wisconsin team that got boat-raced in the Big 10 title game and lost its best player to the NFL. For the third-spot, I’ll go with Notre Dame. Texas has its issues, no doubt, and people are already calling for Charlie Strong’s head, but Notre Dame looked superb. While TCU didn’t look like world-beaters in their opener at Minnesota, kudos to the Horned Frogs for starting their season on the road against another Power-5 conference school. I’ll give them the nod for the fourth-seed, just ahead of Baylor and Michigan State.
Will Vandervort – I think without a doubt Ohio State gets in. The Buckeyes might be better than they were a year ago, and the schedule is easy. They only have to get past Michigan State twice—once in the regular season and then in the conference title game—which will be two hard games, but the Buckeyes are clearly the best team in the country right now and they are better than Sparty. My second team will come from the winner of the TCU-Baylor game. Other than Oklahoma, who I think is still very questionable on defense, who in the Big 12 can beat either one of these guys? My number three team is Notre Dame or Southern Cal. What I saw Notre Dame do to Texas last week was impressive. Southern Cal has weapons everywhere and they will be strong. My dark horse pick might be UCLA. I really like that freshman quarterback they have. My number four pick is Clemson. Even if the Tigers were to lose to Notre Dame and then run the table in the ACC, I can see Clemson still get in because playing Notre Dame, Louisville, Georgia Tech and a Florida State team that might unbeaten when it comes to Death Valley in November will allow it to triumph over a two-loss SEC Champion. That’s right, I don’t think the SEC gets a playoff team this year, which is what college football needs to happen. The SEC Champion will have at least two losses and will not make the playoffs.
Ed McGranahan –