Written by: Jacob Nevis
College football is finally back, and this season, the whole landscape of it will be changed. Before the start of this season, college football saw the implementation of a 12-team extended playoff bracket. The bracket is different from past years when only four teams could qualify for the playoffs. This new bracket may help eliminate the controversy surrounding the selection of playoff teams.
The format this season will have 12 teams selected to try and win the national championship. Six teams will be the conference champions, one from each Power Five conference, SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12 and one from a non-Power Five conference. The other six teams will be the other highest-ranked teams. The top four conference champions will receive automatic byes, and the first round will be played at the home stadiums of the higher seed. These games will create a sports atmosphere like no other. The semi-finals games will be played at bowl sites, and the national championship will be played in Atlanta, Georgia at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
With the college football season already underway, some teams have already shown they are more than capable of making the playoffs. This past weekend, fans were able to watch one of the greatest college football games ever. The highly anticipated matchup of Georgia and Alabama was nothing short of exciting, with Alabama barely defeating Georgia in the final seconds. Both teams now look forward to the college football playoff where they face each other again.
Another team that has begun their season off to a blazing start includes the Texas Longhorns. After Heisman trophy candidate Quinn Ewers was sidelined with an injury, Arch Manning, nephew of NFL greats Peyton and Eli Manning, has helped steady the ship for the Longhorns. The Miami Hurricanes are also off to a great start. Led by Heisman candidate Cam Ward, the team is off to an impressive start. The Tennessee Volunteers are also off to an impressive start, and they will continue their push to the college football playoff as well.
The Heisman race, college football’s award for best college football player, is off to a thrilling start as well. One candidate is Travis Hunter, the two-way superstar from Colorado. Hunter, who plays both cornerback and wide receiver, has been lights out on both sides of the ball. Another player to watch out for is Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty, a running back from Boise State, is one of the most fun players to watch currently. (I would advise everyone to watch highlights of Jeanty because he might be one of the best college football running backs ever.)
There is still plenty of season left in college football, and teams will continue to implement themselves into the college football playoff race.
