Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions are published weekly to show a possible college football playoff format. Similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, 11 conference champions receive automatic bids. 5 additional spots are available for at-large bids.
Round 1 games would be hosted by the higher ranked seeds. Rounds 2 - 4 would incorporate the bowl system with host cities/bowls bidding to host the games. The "Big 4" BCS bowls would be permanent playoff hosts on a round-rotating basis (Championship, semi-finals and 1 round 2 game).
For the week of December 8, 2008 (Final):
1. Florida (SEC Champion)
2. Oklahoma (Big 12 Champion)
3. Texas (At Large Big 12)
4. Alabama (At Large SEC)
5. USC (PAC 10 Champion)
6. Texas Tech (At Large Big 12)
7. Penn State (Big 10 Champion)
8. Utah (MWC Champion)
9. Boise State (WAC Champion)
10. Ohio State (At Large Big 10)
11. TCU (At Large MWC)
12. Cincinnati (Big East Champion)
13. Virginia Tech (ACC Champion)
14. East Carolina (CUSA Champion)
15. Buffalo (MAC Champion)
16. Troy (Sunbelt Champion)
Dropped out: Ball State (#12, MAC Champion), Boston College (#14, ACC Champion), Tulsa (#15, CUSA Champion)
Number Of Teams by Conference:
Big 12 (3), Big 10 (2), MWC (2), SEC (2), ACC (1), Big East (1), CUSA (1), MAC (1), Pac 10 (1), Sunbelt (1), WAC (1), Independent (0)
Match ups round by round assuming higher seeds win.
Round 1
(16) Troy at (1) Florida
(9) Boise State at (8) Utah
(12) Cincinnati at (5) USC
(13) Virginia Tech at (4) Alabama
(11) TCU at (6) Texas Tech
(14) East Carolina at (3) Texas
(10) Ohio State at (7) Penn State
(15) Buffalo at (2) Oklahoma
Round 2
(8) Utah vs (1) Florida
(5) USC vs (4) Alabama
(6) Texas Tech vs (3) Texas
(7) Penn State vs (2) Oklahoma
Round 3
(4) Alabama vs (1) Florida
(3) Texas vs (2) Oklahoma
Championship Game
(2) Oklahoma vs (1) Florida