2021 College Football Playoff Predictions: Who’s In, Who’s Out

It’s that time of the year again. With the college football season set to kick off this weekend and the Clemson season less than two weeks away, it’s time for College Football Playoff predictions.

CJ Cribb

Clemson: The schedule is just to easy to keep the Tigers out. I mean, outside of Georgia, what team on the schedule has the talent to beat Clemson? Unlike others, I don’t even think the Tigers NEED to beat Georgia to get in. A one loss ACC champ has never been left out and the Tigers have built up to much cache over the years for them to be left out in favor of, let’s say a one loss Pac 12 champ.

Alabama: It’s Bama. Like Clemson, all they do is reload. Sure, they lost a lot of talent on offense, but guess what, they have plenty waiting in the wings to step up and replace it.

Oklahoma: While I am not fully buying into all the hype surrounding the Sooners, I do believe they are a playoff team. Spencer Rattler is probably going to win the Heisman because this Sooners offense is going to be explosive, no doubt about it. We are being told that this is the year they finally have the defense to go along with it. Well, I’m one of those guys who has to see it to believe it and I have yet to see it.

Ohio State: Like Clemson and Alabama, Ohio State is having to replace a star quarterback. Like both of those teams, the Buckeyes have another star waiting in the wings

Ted Jackson

Alabama: It doesn’t matter that they lost their starting QB, RB, WR, and other players to the NFL. They’re Alabama, they simply reload. Their overall official record under Saban is 165-23 (. 878) (170–23 on the field), 19 bowl game appearances with 14 victories, 8 SEC West titles, 7 SEC championships, and 6 national championships.

Oklahoma: Spencer Rattler and that offense should be scary. The defense under Lincoln Riley should be much improved. If they can avoid early stumbles like last year, and beat Texas they should cruise into the playoff.

Ohio State: Their is a wide talent gap between the Buckeyes and everyone else in the Big 10. Ohio State has more top 100 players than the rest of the Big 10 combined. Ryan Day has proven that he is capable of winning big games by rolling Clemson in last year’s CFP.

Clemson: Similar to the Big 10, the ACC just doesn’t have any team close to the talent of Clemson. To assure their spot though, Clemson needs to beat Georgia in the opener. Clemson could still make it with the one loss, but they would no longer control their own destiny.

Freddie Huth

Clemson: Head coach Dabo Swinney has built a team that has consistently been in the playoff and this season will be no different. This team’s defense will be able to keep the Tigers in any game, now that some youngsters have a year of experience under their belt. And look for DJ Uiagalelei to show the world just how great he can be with an improved offensive line and the stars he’ll have at his disposal.

Alabama: Nick Saban’s team is already being looked at as the team to beat by many. Even though the offense is replacing three players that finished in the Top-5 of the Heisman voting, and the Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC, look for Bama to be ready to defend their title. As usual, Saban’s 2021 team is loaded with 5-star players with tons of talent.

Oklahoma: The Sooners are expected to have Lincoln Riley’s best team since he took over for Bob Stoops. The only question they have entering the season is the same one they have every other season, will they have a good enough defense to compete with teams like Clemson and Alabama? The offense should be better as quarterback Spencer Rattler begins his second season, which should go a long way towards helping them overcome any defensive issues they could have to deal with.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes will again be heavily favored to win their conference and punch their ticket to the playoff. The biggest question right now is who wins the starting quarterback job. Whoever it is will be throwing to a group of wide receivers with a bevy of talent. Expect their defense to be ready to give offenses fits as well. Not to mention the schedule is also really helpful.