Much of the preseason debate surrounding the College Football Playoff centered around which team would finish in fourth behind overwhelming favorites Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State.
The obvious contenders included Clemson and Oklahoma, which had won their respective conference championships for six consecutive seasons until being dethroned last fall. Michigan is hoping to return to the semifinals after its first appearance last year. Notre Dame started the year seeking its third trip in four years. There were contenders seeking their first appearance, like Texas A&M, Baylor, North Carolina State and Utah.
This bowl projections went with Oklahoma in the preseason and nothing has changed that opinion.