Ohio State football missed out on the College Football Playoff last season.
But ESPN College Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, like other college football analysts, believes that won’t happen this year with the No. 2 Buckeyes, who are considered national championship contenders.
During Saturday’s edition of “College GameDay” in Dublin for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between FSU and Georgia Tech, Herbstreit announced his projection for this year’s 12-team College Football Playoff. And the former Buckeye had Ohio State as his No. 2 seed, which also means Ryan Day’s squad is his pick to win the Big Ten Conference.
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It is the first year that the College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams, with each of the Power Four conference champions earning first-round byes. Whether the Buckeyes end up winning the Big Ten and earning a first-round bye remains to be seen. The first release of the CFP rankings is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Ohio State, which was also picked to win the Big Ten and earn the No. 2 seed in the CFP by former Alabama coach Nick Saban on Saturday, kicks off its season next week on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET against Akron at Ohio Stadium.
Here’s what you need to know about who Herbstreit picked to make the College Football Playoff, where he has the Buckeyes in the field and who he picked to win the national championship during Saturday’s edition of “College GameDay”:
Kirk Herbstreit ‘College GameDay’ College Football Playoff projection
Herbstreit selected Ohio State as his champion of the Big Ten Conference and placed the Buckeyes as his No. 2 seed in his CFP projection.
“I’m going to start with the four teams who I think are going to get a bye by winning the conference championship. Georgia out of the SEC, Ohio State (in the Big Ten), Clemson out of the ACC and Utah out of the Big 12,” Herbstreit said.
With Boise State sneaking into the field as his No. 12 seed, Herbstreit has Ole Miss and Oklahoma State as the two teams he has missing the playoff — what would be considered “last two out” teams if you adopt the terminology of “last four out” from March Madness.
Here’s who Herbstreit picked to make the College Football Playoff this season:
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1. Georgia (SEC champion)
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2. Ohio State (Big Ten champion)
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3. Clemson (ACC champion)
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4. Utah (Big 12 champion)
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5. Oregon vs. 12. Boise State
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8. Penn State vs. 9. Notre Dame
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6. Texas vs. 11. Michigan
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7. Missouri vs. 10. Florida State
Kirk Herbstreit ‘College GameDay’ National Champion projection
Herbstreit picked Oregon to win the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game in January against Georgia. It would be the first time that the Ducks have won a national championship in program history if that happens.
“I’m with Dez (Desmond Howard). I picked Ohio State to win the Big Ten but remember now that they make the playoff, who makes the run into the playoff? I have Dan Lanning, Dillon Gabriel and Oregon playing Georgia in the national championship. (And) I have Oregon winning it all,” Herbstreit said.
Here’s who the rest of the “GameDay” crew selected to win the national championship:
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Kirk Herbstreit’s College Football Playoff projection: Where is Ohio State?
