Breaking down national championship chase: The favorites, the dark horses, the prediction — Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel

Favorites

GEORGIA 13-1, 8-0 SEC

The buzz: After back-to-back national titles, the Bulldogs missed out on the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020, partly due to a loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. With the No. 1 recruiting class in tow, Georgia has a deep roster that features returning quarterback Carson Beck and former Florida running back Trevor Etienne.

They said it: “We don’t have a chip on our shoulder in terms of people trying to use that as motivation. I’ve never used a failure from the previous year as motivation and never used the success of a previous year as motivation. We won’t do that this year. That’s not who we are.” — Georgia coach Kirby Smart

OHIO STATE 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten

The buzz: The Buckeyes are three years removed from their last Big Ten championship, and despite three straight 11-win seasons pressure is starting to mount on coach Ryan Day. The good news is the roster is loaded, and adding Chip Kelly as a new offensive coordinator could do wonders for a program eager to return to college football’s mountaintop.

They said it: “You can’t really focus on what happened the year before. You can’t get too worried about what’s coming down the road, but we all know there’s a lot of noise and a lot of hype around this team.” — Ohio State coach Ryan Day

TEXAS 12-2, 8-1 Big 12

The buzz: After several false starts during the past decade, Texas has returned to the national consciousness just in time to join the SEC. The Longhorns fell short of making a run at a national championship last season. Still, another run at the title is possible with a loaded roster led by quarterback Quinn Ewers and a manageable schedule.

They said it: “We already had to build a team that would beat the best team in the SEC if we wanted to win a National Championship. Not much had to change there for us on that front.” — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian

OREGON 12-2, 8-1 Pac-12

The buzz: The Ducks missed a chance at their first College Football Playoff appearance in nearly a decade with a close loss to Washington in the Pac-12 title game. It won’t get any easier in the Big Ten, but with transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel and a deep, experienced defense, Oregon could be right back in the Playoff mix.

They said it: “We’re excited about the traditions that exist here in the Big Ten. We’re excited about some of the venues that we’re going to get the opportunity to play in, but we know that none of that really matters until you start with Game 1.” — Oregon coach Dan Lanning

ALABAMA 12-2, 9-0 SEC

The buzz: Nick Saban may not be roaming the sidelines anymore, but the legendary coach’s fingerprints are all over the Crimson Tide. His replacement, Kalen DeBoer, inherited a program that hasn’t finished a season ranked outside the top 25 since 2007. Alabama returns enough pieces to contend in the SEC and possibly earn a Playoff spot.

They said it: “I understand there’s only one coach Saban. There will only ever be one coach Saban. This program is special, and I take it as a great honor to be the one who gets to do everything we can to carry on the great tradition.” — Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer

FLORIDA STATE 13-1, 8-0 ACC

The buzz: The Seminoles were a talent-loaded team that should have been in the playoff mix last season, but they could only watch in disappointment after being excluded. Despite having nine players chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft, they have a core group of 10 returning starters and 14 transfers that provide enough depth for another postseason run.

They said it: “Coming off what was a 13-0 regular season and the championship game was something that was really a special experience for our entire program. It sets the stage and opportunity for us to continue to push and continue to elevate this program to ultimately where it deserves to be.” — FSU coach Mike Norvell.

Dark horses

NOTRE DAME 10-3

The buzz: The addition of transfer quarterback Riley Leonard (Duke) gives the Fighting Irish another experienced signal caller in the same vein as Sam Hartman. This could be one of the most explosive offenses under third-year coach Marcus Freeman, and with a deep defense to boot, and could make another serious run at the Playoff semifinals.

They said it: “I’ve seen so many things about Notre Dame not having a bye as part of their requirements with the playoff. They do have a bye. They don’t have a conference championship game. That’s their bye.” — Penn State coach James Franklin at Big Ten Media Days

MICHIGAN15-0, 9-0 Big Ten

The buzz: The reigning national champs underwent a busy offseason as coach Jim Harbaugh and 13 players departed for the NFL. The new coach, Sherrone Moore, will take over a program built on a solid foundation but will have several new faces at key positions, such as quarterback, receiver and offensive line.

They said it: “Tough, smart, dependable, relentless, enthusiastic and together is how I describe our team. We’re going to do everything we can to strive for perfection.” — Michigan coach Sherrone Moore.

UTAH 8-5, 5-4 Pac-12

The buzz: The Utes move to the Big 12 and shouldn’t miss a beat by returning 13 players, including quarterback Cam Rising. Rising was among a group impacted by injuries last season, leading to the team taking a step back after back-to-back Pac-12 titles (2021-22).

They said it: “We feel like we’ve got a roster that’s equipped to compete right away. Obviously the media feels the same way as far as being picked the favorite. I think that’s a show of respect to our players and coaches that have done a great job competing through the years that the media has selected us number one.” — Utah coach Kyle Whittingham

OLE MISS 11-2, 6-2 SEC

The buzz: Outside of Georgia (42) and Alabama (36), nobody has won more games in the SEC during the past three seasons (29). The Rebels return plenty of experience from a team that finished with a program-high 11 wins and filled out the rest of the roster through the transfer portal.

They said it: “There is plenty of noise out there that means nothing, and plenty of teams over the years in all sports have been ranked high and haven’t played well and been ranked low and played really well. None of that means anything.” — Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin

PREDICTION

An expanded Playoff opens the door to the potential for chaos — and who doesn’t like a little chaos? — but when it’s all said and done, the chances of a Cinderella pulling off a surprise seem highly unlikely. Georgia missed out on a three-peat and a spot in the playoffs last season, and its unlikely to make the same mistake twice. Even with a schedule that features road games at Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss, Kirby Smart’s team has enough firepower and defense to make it three championships in four seasons.