It is the second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff, and it has already got its first change. Bang goes the round 1 byes for the four Power Conference champions, and in comes straight seeding format. The five conference champions (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Group of 5) will continue to receive automatic bids, but make sure you are in the top four rankings if you want a bye week.
If the 2024 bracket followed this year's change, Arizona State and Boise State would not have received a pass into the quarter-final stages. Texas and Penn State would have occupied those spots, losing conference finalists in the SEC and the Big Ten, respectively.
Last season's layout was met with plenty of criticism, but with it being new, it would always come with flaws. However, the fact that they have reacted quickly to rectify shows the committee is winning to change. Is everybody happy, though?
Most will be happy with the change, but the conference champions who finish outside the top four rankings will be slightly miffed with the decision. However, with the change implemented, they can't say they don't know what needs to be done. When it comes to the committee rankings teams, will there be an SEC and Big Ten bias? Something that did not look to be the case in 2024.
In regard to Ole Miss, nothing changes for them. The aim is to win the SEC; if they do, they will be in and likely receive a first-round bye due to the strength of the schedule from the conference. If they don't, make sure they put themself in a position where they are not eliminated while in No.11 and No.12 rank due to two conference champions being ranked behind.