24-Team CFP Push Spotlights 10 Long-Shot Teams From Past 30 Years
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 15
24-Team CFP Push Spotlights 10 Long-Shot Teams From Past 30 Years
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 15
ACC and Big 12 backing this week moved a 24-team College Football Playoff closer, prompting an analysis of 10 teams since 1998 that finished No. 15 or lower yet looked dangerous in a larger field.
2000 Michigan led the list after a 9-3 regular season, with narrow losses to UCLA, Purdue and Northwestern offset by wins over Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State before a Citrus Bowl victory.
The group spans power-conference and outsider profiles, from 2019 Iowa and 2023 Notre Dame to 1998 Air Force and 2024 Iowa State, highlighting defenses, matchup problems and late-season momentum.
The broader point is that most extra entrants in a 24-team bracket would be early exits, but a few lower-ranked teams with elite units or star quarterbacks could still disrupt the title race.
How will a 24-team playoff affect athlete health and the tradition of iconic, non-playoff bowl games?
With a 24-team playoff looming, is college football's soul being sold for a massive new television contract?