What if? College Football Playoff matchups in 12-team format

Using the final College Football Playoff selection committee rankings for each season, here’s how the postseason matchups would have looked with the proposed 12-team format during the CFP’s four-team era.

2020

First round (Lower seed is home team)

No. 5 Notre Dame (at-large) vs. No. 12 Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt champ)

No. 6 Texas A&M (at-large) vs. No. 11 Indiana (at-large)

No. 7 Florida (at-large) vs. No. 10 Iowa State (at-large)

No. 8 Cincinnati (American champ) vs. No. 9 Georgia (at-large)

Quarterfinals

Cincinnati-Georgia winner vs. No 1. Alabama (SEC champ) at Peach Bowl

Florida-Iowa State winner vs. No. 2 Clemson (ACC champ) at Orange Bowl

Texas A&M-Indiana winner vs. No. 3. Ohio State (Big Ten champ) at Fiesta Bowl

Notre Dame-Coastal Carolina winner vs. No. 4. Oklahoma (Big 12 champ) at Cotton Bowl.

Semifinals played at Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl


2019

First round (Lower seed is home team)

No. 5 Georgia (at-large) vs. No. 12 Memphis (American champ)

No. 6 Oregon (Pac-12 champ) vs. No. 11 Utah (at-large)

No. 7 Baylor (at-large) vs. No. 10 Penn State (at-large)

No. 8 Wisconsin (at-large) vs. No. 9 Florida (at-large)

Quarterfinals

Wisconsin-Florida winner vs. No. 1 LSU (SEC champ) at Sugar Bowl.

Baylor-Penn State winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State (Big Ten champ) at Rose Bowl

Oregon-Utah winner vs. No. 3 Clemson (ACC champ) at Orange Bowl

Georgia-Memphis winner vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (Big 12 champ) at Cotton Bowl

Semifinals played at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl


2018

First round (Lower seed is home team)

No. 5 Notre Dame (at-large) vs. No. 12 Penn State (at-large)

No. 6 Georgia (at-large) vs. No. 11 LSU (at-large)

No. 7 Michigan (at-large) vs. No. 10 Florida (at-large)

No. 8 UCF (American champ) vs. No. 9 Washington (Pac-12 champ)

Quarterfinals

UCF-Washington winner vs. Alabama (SEC champ) at Sugar Bowl

Michigan-Florida winner vs. Clemson (ACC champ) at Peach Bowl

Georgia-LSU winner vs. Oklahoma (Big 12 champ) at Fiesta Bowl.

Notre Dame-Penn State winner vs. Ohio State (Big Ten champ) at Rose Bowl.

Semifinals played at Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl.

—-

2017

First round (Lower seed is home team)

No. 5 Alabama (at-large) vs. No. 12 UCF (American champ)

No. 6 Wisconsin (at-large) vs. No. 11 Washington (at-large)

No. 7 Auburn (at-large) vs. No. 10 Miami (at-large)

No. 8 USC (Pac-12 champ) vs. Penn State (at-large)

Quarterfinals

USC-Penn State winner vs. No. 1 Clemson (ACC champ) at Orange Bowl

Auburn-Miami winner vs. No. 2 Oklahoma (Big 12 champ) at Cotton Bowl

Wisconsin-Washington winner vs. No. 3 Georgia (SEC champ) at Peach Bowl

Alabama-UCF winner vs. No. 4 Ohio State (Big Ten champ) at Fiesta Bowl

Semifinals played at Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl

—-

2016

First round (Lower seed is home team)

No. 5 Ohio State (at-large) vs. No. 12 Western Michigan (MAC champ)

No. 6 Michigan (at-large) vs. No. 11 Florida State (at-large)

No. 7 Oklahoma (Big 12 champ) vs. No. 10 Colorado (at-large)

No. 8 Wisconsin (Big Ten champ) vs. No. 9 USC (at-large)

Quarterfinals

Wisconsin-USC winner vs. No. 1 Alabama (SEC champ) at Sugar Bowl

Oklahoma-Colorado winner vs. No. 2 Clemson (ACC champ) at Orange Bowl

Michigan-Florida State winner vs. No. 3 Washington (Pac-12 champ) at Rose Bowl

Ohio State-Western Michigan winner vs. No. 4 Penn State (Big Ten champ) at Cotton Bowl

Semifinals played at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl

—-

2015

First round (Lower seed is home team)

No. 5 Iowa (at-large) vs. No. 12 Houston (American champ)

No. 6 Stanford (Pac-12 champ) vs. No. 11 TCU (at-large)

No. 7 Ohio State (at-large) vs. No. 10 North Carolina (at-large)

No. 8 Notre Dame (at-large) vs. No. 9 Florida State (at-large)

Quarterfinals

Notre Dame-Florida State winner vs. No. 1 Clemson (ACC champ) at Peach Bowl

Ohio State-North Carolina winner vs. No. 2 Alabama (SEC champ) at Sugar Bowl

Stanford-TCU winner vs. No. 3 Michigan State (Big Ten champ) at Rose Bowl

Iowa-Houston winner vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (Big 12 champ) at Fiesta Bowl

Semifinals played at Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl


2014

First round (Lower seed is home team)

No. 5 Baylor (Big 12 co-champ) vs. No. 12 Boise State (Mountain West champ)

No. 6 TCU (Big 12 co-champ) vs. No. 11 Kansas State (at-large)

No. 7 Mississippi State (at-large) vs. No. 10 Arizona (at-large)

No. 8 Michigan State (at-large) vs. No. 9 Mississippi (at-large)

Quarterfinals

Michigan State-Mississippi winner vs. No. 1 Alabama (SEC champ) at Peach Bowl

Mississippi State-Arizona winner vs. No. 2 Oregon (Pac-12 champ) at Fiesta Bowl

TCU-Kansas State winner vs. No. 3 Florida State (ACC champ) at Orange Bowl

No. 5 Baylor-Boise State winners vs. No. 4 Ohio State (Big Ten champ) at Cotton Bowl

Semifinals at Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl


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