2024 Week 1 12-team College Football Playoff rankings prediction

Though we had an appetizer with this past weekend's "Week 0" games, college football returns in earnest this weekend. That's when the true countdown to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff will commence.

This season, as the playoff field grows by eight teams, the top four-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4. Those teams will have a bye to the second round.

Meanwhile, teams ranked 5-12 will square off in the first round. What's even better is that those teams will play on the campus of the higher-ranked team.

It should be a fascinating year for the game of college football. So let's look at how the playoff field might shape up if the tournament were to begin this weekend.

Of course, USC fans will notice that the Trojans aren't in this initial projection. The good news is that the Big Ten figures to have plenty of at-large births in the field. In fact, some people think that the conference could have as many as four teams included when the bids are handed out.

What's more, USC can make some serious noise and play its way into the playoffs thanks to the schedule. Games against LSU, Michigan, and Notre Dame will give Lincoln Riley's squad plenty of opportunities to garner national attention meaning that USC's fate is in its own hands.

Each week, we will update our playoff projections so if USC plays well, especially early in the year, they will have a shot at cracking this 12-team list. Regardless of how the Trojans' season shakes out, this is going to be a college football season like no other so keep checking in to see how the playoff field comes together.