This is interesting, if for nothing else, to see what might’ve been under the AFCA Board approved 24-team expansion.

Personally, I think the format shouldn’t have Tulane AND James Madison both in it, but it is what it is. I’d much rather see a first round Alabama vs. Texas and let JMU and Tulane slug it out against each other…but aside from that, most of those first round games seem quite entertaining.

We would’ve gotten some unappealing possible second round rematches, Alabama and Oklahoma, possibly Michigan vs. Ohio State, but a Texas-Texas Tech tilt would’ve been unique as would be a Notre Dame versus Ole Miss game…and I personally would’ve taken Virginia over Vandy and seen the Senator’s matchup of UGA-Virginia.

I’ll say that’s intriguing…but what would 2024 have looked like? Based on end of 2024 CFP Final Rankings, you’d have had this:

First Round:

#9 Boise State vs. #24 UNLV – Winner Plays #8 Indiana in Second Round; Third Round versus winner of #1 Oregon vs. Clemson/BYU

#10 SMU vs. #23 Colorado (!) – Winner Plays #7 Tennessee in Second Round; Third Round versus winner of #2 Georgia vs. South Carolina/Iowa State

#11 Alabama vs. #22 Army – Winner Plays #6 Ohio State; Third Round versus winner of #3 Texas vs. Ole Miss/Mizzou

#12 Arizona State vs #21 Syracuse – Winner Plays #5 Notre Dame’ Third Round versus winner of #4 Penn State vs. Miami/Illinois

#13 Miami vs #20 Illinois – Winner Plays #4 Penn State

#14 Ole Miss vs #19 Missouri – Winner Plays #3 Texas

#15 South Carolina vs #18 Iowa State – Winner Plays #2 Georgia

#16 Clemson vs #17 BYU – Winner Plays #1 Oregon

First, for equity’s sake, you’ve got 3 G5 teams here, and I’m a fan of a Service Academy getting a shot at the tournament, for sure. By sheer accident, Indiana, as the lowest first round Bye seed, gets the easiest draw only because Boise State was gloriously overhyped and overranked for the purposes of sneaking them into the CFP12. If they knew if was going to be 24 instead of 12, maybe Boise State is ranked a touch lower. Who knows.

I still see a somewhat easier pathway here for eventual Championship game participants Ohio State and Notre Dame, especially since I think the 1-4 seeds would draw a potentially more challenging opponent in the second round than the 5-8 seeds. Alabama versus Ohio State would be an exception, but that’s Milroe’s Alabama and I think that Ohio State defense would’ve eaten Alabama alive. Just me thinking out loud.

Would Tennessee have beaten SMU or Colorado (yes) and see a rematch with Georgia? The only way to make it sweeter is to allow the third rounds to be played on campuses, make Tennessee head to Athens. YES. Some of the other potential matchups would’ve been unique…Clemson heading to Oregon, Iowa State in Athens…I was hoping there would be more mention of potentially more home contests in the expansion, but that doesn’t seem to be the appetite.

I’ll give it credit…it looks interesting, in both 2024 and 2025. I guess we’ll know soon enough, like it or not, if it’s this interesting when it gets played out…and also knowing that the Committee is really going to screw around with the 20th-30th ranked teams and will lilkely still screw someone in the process.

And if Notre Dame finishes 50th, do they still get in at the 24 seed?

Now, for further consideration…what if we dialed it back to 2018? What would that have included at the bottom half of the Top 24?

Let’s face it, there shouldn’t be a place where a 5 loss college football team is included in a Championship Tournament. Northwestern? And how the hell were they the 22nd ranked team in the nation at that point?

So it’s not perfect, maybe. We’ll find out soon enough.