2023 Season Lookback

Where did the time go?!?  Postseason already!  In the last year of the 4-team playoff setup, let's go back and see just how right - or how wrong - those predictions were!

2023 Hypothetical 12-team playoff

Here's what the CFP would look like if we had the 12 team system this year.  Although I'm sure there would be much debate over giving Alabama or FSU the first round bye.

2023 - Semifinals:  Rose and Sugar

Top 4	Quarterfinal	First Round
#1 Michigan	Peach	#9 Missouri @ #8 Oregon
#2 Washington	Fiesta	#10 Penn State @ #7 Ohio State
#3 Texas	Cotton	#11 Ole Miss @ #6 Georgia
#4 Alabama	Orange	#12 Liberty @ #5 FSU

Once again, we would see an OSU/PSU rematch, as well as an Ole Miss/Georgia rematch.

Click here for the full recap of 12 team playoff scenarios for the entire BCS/CFP era.

2023 Final Predictions

The games just wrapped up and the committee has 12 hours to figure out where everyone is playing around New Year's.

I hate the argument about "best teams" when it comes to choosing champions.  Those terms do not mean the same.  It's largely impossible to truly determine the best team.

I also don't like the line that the committee gives about each week being a fresh slate, as that seems to run counter to the idea that they are judging an entire season's worth of work.

That being said, here are my final predictions for what we will see in the New Year's Six.

Semifinals:
Rose Bowl - 1 Michigan vs. 4 Texas
Sugar Bowl - 2 Washington vs. 3 Florida State

Orange Bowl - Louisville vs. Georgia
Cotton Bowl - Alabama vs. Oregon
Peach Bowl - Ohio State vs. Missouri
Fiesta Bowl - Liberty vs. Penn State

Other than the Orange Bowl, I have more confidence in the NY6 teams than actual matchups.

Speaking of the Orange Bowl, I don't think an idle 9-3 NC State will jump a 10-3 Louisville just because the latter lost their 13th game.  Some folks are probably thinking that Alabama should be going to the Orange Bowl, due to the highest ranking Big Ten/SEC team not in the semifinals.  Except that the contract specifically states "non-champion".