In the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoffs last year, the Southeastern Conference had three teams vying for a spot in the national championship game. As the SEC officially opens the regular season in 54 days,

USC Receives Disappointing College Football Playoff Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. USC reinstalled new momentum heading into the 2025 season. The influx of new faces on the roster and a favorable schedule points to a far improved campaign for Lincoln Riley and company. Which includes College Football Playoff hype.

McMurphy projects that Utah will win the Big 12 and earn an automatic bid into the College Football Playoff as the No. 11 seed in the first year of the straight seeding model. McMurphy predicts the Utes will face No. 6 seed Clemson on the road in the first round and lose to the Tigers.