By Sunday afternoon, after months of anticipation and weeks of intensifying debate, the first 12-team College Football Playoff will be set. A handful of conference championship games remain to be played, with seeding and perhaps the final spots in the field still up for grabs.
There are certainly going to be teams that feel snubbed after the CFP selection committee releases its top 25 rankings, with the outcome of the ACC championship game between SMU and Clemson of particular interest given how it could affect the potential bracket. Can the ACC get two teams in or does the SEC deserve four spots? How will the Big 12 champion (Arizona State or Iowa State) and Notre Dame be handled? Where will the Big Ten teams land after Oregon and Penn State meet in the Big Ten championship game?
The answers are unknown at the moment, but the topics are driving the national conversation ahead of Sunday’s College Football Playoff selection show. All that buildup and campaigning are fueling projections of what the CFP selection committee might do once all of the results are in. Here’s a look at some national predictions ahead of Saturday’s conference championship games:
MORE PREDICTIONS: Expert picks for every conference championship game
College Football Playoff bracket predictions
USA TODAY
Rankings – Top 12 teams
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Oregon
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Texas
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SMU
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Arizona State
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Notre Dame
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Penn State
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Georgia
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Ohio State
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Indiana
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Tennessee
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Boise State
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Alabama
Bracket – first round games
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No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 12 Alabama
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No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 Boise State
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No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 Tennessee
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No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Indiana
The Athletic
Rankings – Top 12 teams
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Oregon
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Texas
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Boise State
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Arizona State
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Penn State
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Notre Dame
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Ohio State
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Georgia
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Tennessee
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Indiana
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SMU
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Clemson
Bracket – first round games
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No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 12 Clemson
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No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 SMU
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No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Indiana
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No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Tennessee
Bleacher Report
Rankings – Top 12 teams
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Oregon
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Texas
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SMU
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Boise State
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Penn State
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Notre Dame
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Georgia
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Ohio State
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Tennessee
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Indiana
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Alabama
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Arizona State
Bracket – first round games
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No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 12 Arizona State
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No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Alabama
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No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 Indiana
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No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee
When is College Football Playoff bracket revealed?
The bracket for the first 12-team College Football Playoff will be released on Sunday, Dec. 8, beginning at 12 p.m. ET, following the conclusion of conference championship games on Saturday night.
How to watch College Football Playoff selection show
The College Football Playoff Selection Show will air on ESPN, with the broadcast starting at noon ET on Sunday, Dec. 8. Fans can also stream the selection show on Fubo.
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Date: Sunday, Dec. 8
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Time: 12-4 p.m. ET
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TV: ESPN
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Stream: Fubo
Watch CFP Selection Show with Fubo
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will make CFP: College Football playoff bracket expert predictions
