Year 4 of the playoff. We start with a Power Poll of the top 25 rated teams plus predictions of the final Top 25 and conference champions. Last year 15 of the Power Poll top 25 finished in the final top 25, and 16 of our predicted top 25 did. The top 20 average 4.67 this year, up from 4.55, so the teams are better.
SF Pre-Season Top 25
- Alabama (5.25)
- FSU (5.15)
- Ohio St (4.93)
- Auburn (4.91)
- Washington (4.80)
- Penn St (4.76)
- LSU (4.73)
- USC (4.68)
- Stanford (4.64)
- Wisconsin (4.59)
- Clemson (4.59)
- Georgia (4.59)
- Oklahoma St (4.58)
- Oklahoma (4.54)
- Florida (4.49)
- UCLA (4.49)
- Miami (4.47)
- Michigan (4.45)
- Texas (4.43)
- Arizona St (4.42)
- Ole Miss (4.40)
- Tennessee (4.36)
- TCU (4.30)
- Houston (4.29)
- Vanderbilt (4.28)
Predicted Champions
SEC: Alabama over Georgia · ACC: FSU over Miami · Big 12: Oklahoma over Texas · Pac 12: USC over Washington · Big Ten: Ohio St over Wisconsin · American: USF over Houston · MWC: Boise St over San Diego St · CUSA: Southern Miss over Marshall · MAC: Western Michigan over Bowling Green · Sun Belt: Appalachian State
Final CFP Top 25 Prediction
- Alabama
- FSU
- Ohio St
- USC
- Penn St
- Washington
- Clemson
- Michigan
- Notre Dame
- Wisconsin
- Auburn
- Stanford
- Oklahoma
- Georgia
- Oklahoma St
- Miami
- USF
- Louisville
- Northwestern
- LSU
- Houston
- Western Michigan
- Arizona State
- Virginia Tech
- NC State
Playoff: Sugar — Alabama v USC; Rose — Florida State v Ohio St. Championship in Tampa: Florida State v Alabama. 2017 Champion: Alabama.