In a seismic shift for college football, the College Football Playoff (CFP) will undergo a major transformation next season, expanding from a four-team format to a 12-team bracket. The initial CFP Rankings release has provided insights into how the bracket could potentially shape up, according to projections by Jerry Palm.

Under the current plan, the 12-team playoff will consist of the top six highest-rated conference champions based on the CFP Rankings, along with the next six highest-ranked programs. The four highest-ranked conference champions will receive first-round byes, advancing directly to the quarterfinals.

However, there is speculation that adjustments may be made to the format to accommodate the challenges in the Pacific-12 (Pac-12) conference. This could involve either granting playoff spots to the top five conference champions with additional at-large bids or potentially eliminating automatic qualifiers altogether.

On Tuesday night, the College Football Playoff selection committee unveiled their inaugural set of rankings. These rankings become the basis for determining conference champions and at-large teams in projections like those provided by Jerry Palm. Each conference's highest-ranked team is considered the conference champion in this exercise. If there are insufficient conferences represented, additional teams will be projected to reach a total of six.

Surprisingly, three of the top four seeds in this week's rankings are newcomers to the top tier. Ohio State has claimed the coveted number one spot, surpassing rival Michigan, which now lands in the at-large category. Oklahoma's loss to Kansas has cost them their Big 12 champion status, with Texas now filling that position. Despite being a conference champion, the Longhorns are not ranked high enough to secure a bye into the quarterfinals. Georgia has also secured a bye after ranking second in the initial CFP Rankings, replacing Oklahoma.

In the Group of Five category, Tulane has been ranked ahead of Air Force by the CFP selection committee, making them the projected 12th seed and champions of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). If this projection holds true, Tulane would face a challenging trip to Michigan in December, making it a battle against the elements as well.

As we delve into the projected 12-team playoff based on the nine full weeks of the 2023 season, we see some intriguing matchups take shape. The ninth-ranked Oklahoma will face off against the eighth-ranked Alabama, with the winner advancing to face the top-seeded Ohio State. The 12th-seeded Tulane is projected to go up against the fifth-ranked Michigan, while Penn State and Oregon battle it out for a chance to face third-ranked Florida State. The tenth-ranked Ole Miss will clash with the seventh-ranked Texas, with the winner moving on to challenge second-ranked Georgia.

The initial release of the CFP Rankings has provided fans with a glimpse into what may lie ahead in the expanded playoff format next season. As the final weeks of the 2023 college football season unfold, the race to secure a spot in the coveted 12-team bracket intensifies, with hopes of ultimately securing a place in the national championship game.

Indeed, change is on the horizon for college football, and fans across the nation eagerly anticipate the thrilling matchups and renewed excitement that the expanded College Football Playoff will bring.