On Tuesday, On3’s Jesse Simonton released an updated look at the College Football Playoff picture following the first two weeks of the 2024 college football season.
After many upsets, like Florida State losing their first two games and No. 5 Notre Dame losing to unranked NIU, the playoff picture has changed significantly.
Simonton stuck with the Utah Utes to win the Big 12 Championship and earn the league’s auto bid to the College Football Playoff but did raise some concerns regarding the health of veteran quarterback Cam Rising.
“We’re a long way from determining who will even play for the Big 12 title game in Dallas — much less win the league and earn the coveted auto-bid,” Simonton said. “Cam Rising is already dealing with another injury (this time a hand issue), and it’s hard to believe anything Kyle Whittingham says about Rising’s timeline.”
While other companies have projected the Big 12 sneaking a second team into the CFP as an at-large bid, On3 has more or less stayed consistent in their picks, cementing the league champion as the one team to earn a spot.
Simonton’s auto bids include Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, Penn State, USC, Missouri, and Northern Illinois, who recently knocked off fifth-ranked Notre Dame. Two teams from the Big 12 were listed in the first four out category, with both Oklahoma State and Kansas State earning recognition.
While the College Football Playoff is still more than four months away, similar to March Madness, resume comparisons will be something to watch as the season progresses week by week.
