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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/kadoozie92 on 2026-01-23 15:07:25+00:00.

Since it’s the offseason, I thought now would be as good a time as ever to start a hypothetical weekly thread of what the FBS postseason would look like every year going back 31 years (weeks until 2026 kickoff) if we had a 24-team playoff like how it’s done in the FCS and every other level of CFB.

Postseason Setup:

  • All conference champions are automatically qualified for the postseason. At-large teams are filled in until there are 24 team. If there is a co-champion, I will be going off head to head. If the teams did not play head-to-head, I will base the AQ conference champ off the highest ranked between the teams. If all tied teams are unranked, I’m going with the top listed team per Wikipedia’s conference standings page for the given year
  • . Between 1995-1998, I will be going off the AP rankings following conference championship game weekend. Between 1998 and 2014, I will be using the final BCS rankings. Between 2014-present, I will be using the CFP rankings following conference championship weekend
  • Straight seeding with the top 8 ranked teams getting a first round BYE. Assumed that the first two rounds are on the higher ranked team’s home field.

1995 FBS Playoffs Games:

  • First Round BYES
    • #1 Nebraska (12-0, Big 8 Champion)
    • #2 Florida (12-0, SEC Champion)
    • #3 Northwestern (10-1, Big Ten Champion)
    • #4 Tennessee (10-1)
    • #5 Ohio State (11-1)
    • #6 Notre Dame (9-2)
    • #7 Colorado (9-2)
    • #8 Florida State (9-2, ACC Champion)
  • Remaining matchups
    • #9 Texas (10-1-1, SWC Champion) vs #24 Colorado State (8-4, WAC Champion) - Winner to play at #8 Florida State
    • #10 Kansas State (9-2) vs #23 Nevada (9-3, Big West Champion) - Winner to play #7 Colorado
    • #11 Kansas (9-2) vs #22 Toledo (10-0-1, MAC Champion) - Winner to play #6 Notre Dame
    • #12 Oregon (9-2) vs #21 Alabama (8-3) - Winner to play #5 Ohio State
    • #13 Virginia Tech (9-2, Big East Champion) vs #20 Washington (7-3-1) - winner to play #4 Tennessee
    • #14 Michigan (9-3) vs #19 Texas A&M (8-3) - winner to play #3 Northwestern
    • #15 Penn State (8-3) vs #18 Virginia (8-4) - winner to play #2 Florida
    • #16 Auburn (8-3) vs #17 USC (8-2-1, Pac 10 Champion) - winner to play #1 Nebraska
  • First 2 teams out: Miami (8-3) & Clemson (8-3)