The dawn of a new day in college football is upon us, and with the 2024 season comes a brand new playoff format in which 12 teams will qualify.
The only automatic qualifiers come for winning a Power 4 conference as well as being the highest ranked Group of 5 team, meaning that seven at-large bids will be given out outside of the automatics.
Pundits from across the country have been making their predictions all offseason, but one with a bit of local flair just released his in former Alabama quarterback and current SEC Network and WJOX personality Greg McElroy.
𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨… @GregMcElroy's 𝟏𝟐-𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 CFP projection ‼️ ⬇️⬇️
Thoughts?? pic.twitter.com/DIWzqaH07L
— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) August 22, 2024
McElroy included five SEC teams in his final 12, including the Alabama Crimson Tide as the No. 7 seed. McElroy has Georgia as the No. 1 seed, meaning the Bulldogs would claim the SEC title in this hypothetical.
Perhaps most fascinating is the fact that McElroy has two all-SEC matchups in the first round which would be held at SEC stadiums. Alabama taking one Ole Miss in the No. 7 vs. No. 10 matchup at Bryant-Denny Stadium as well as No. 6 Texas hosting No. 11 LSU in Austin.
If things did play out this way, the winner of the Alabama game would take on Ohio State, while the winner of the Texas matchup would take on another surprise in No. 3 Miami, presumably the ACC Champions in this world.
No matter how things play out, football season is finally here, so everyone must get their predictions in before the season begins officially on August 31.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
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