Next year the playoff games will be the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowls(same as 2014) and the championship will be in Miami. So what are you very early final 4? Here are mine with some other options:
#1 Ohio State-OSU comes into 2020 with a chip on their shoulder and a very motivated offseason. Fields will have maybe the best offensive line in football along with an elite receiver group, Master Teague at RB, and really good tight ends. The defense may take a step back to simply top 10 with heavy loses. The schedule sets up well for a #1 seed. OSU plays @Oregon who is the Pac-12 favorite but likely not good enough to challenge OSU, @PSU, Michigan, and Iowa and Nebraska from the west present a quality schedule that may be manageable to go 12-0. Even with a loss this schedule should get OSU into the 4.
Biggest Bar-@PSU will be tough. PSU will be very good and if they can pull the upset they could block OSU out of the conference championship game.(Everything about PSU will be void if this hazing thing brings mass suspensions)
#2 Clemson-Clemson will be the preseason #1 returning Lawrence along with a large chunk of the defense. They lose 4 Olineman, Tee Higgins, Isiah Simmons, and Etienne but they recruit and develop as well as anybody. The ACC should also be down again.
Biggest Bar-@Notre Dame November 7 will be a challenge. A tough environment in the cold could lead to an upset and their schedule may not be good enough to get in with a loss.(Their reputation will likely help them though)
#3-Alabama-The SEC spot is really intriguing going into the offseason. Bama, Georgia, and LSU all have big questions at QB. Of the 3 I will go with Bama right now. Bama will likely have Mac Jones at QB but with plenty of talent around him he should be able to perform well enough for the offense to be good. Really I just dont trust Georgia's offensive scheme for them to win the SEC and LSU has to replace the greatest QB in college football history and no matter what their offense will take a big step back.
Biggest bar-A very difficult schedule with Georgia,@LSU,Texas AM, and Auburn.
#4-It is very difficult right now to pick this spot. I don't think the SEC or Big Ten will be able to get two teams in because OSU plays PSU and Bama plays UGA in the regular season. I will go with Oklahoma. Oregon taking an L from OSU would have to win out to make it. Oklahoma should be better at QB and return every Olineman, RB, and 8/11 starters on defense. They wont challenge for a title but they are simply so far ahead in the Big12.
Biggest bar-reputation, two straight blowouts in the playoffs may hurt Oklahoma in the decision process. They also play a Tennessee team that should improve quite a bit and if that game isn't a blowout the reputation of the Big-12 could stay down.
Others:
- Oregon, mentioned above, is the early favorite in the Pac-12 and have the hardest games all at home. There are two problems, one they lose Herbert and 4 very good offensive lineman. Two, they will likely lose to OSU and will need to run the table. It isn't unlikely because Washington, Utah, and could all be worse, but It may be hard for a team without a great QB.
- UGA-With Jamie Newman coming in at QB and elite running backs and receivers the UGA offense could be really good. I doubt the coaches will let them. The defense will compete to be the best in the country. @Bama, Auburn, Florida is tough.
- LSU-they actually return quite a bit from this championship team. However it required Burrow to have the greatest season ever for a QB and they might not even have a good QB next year. They will lose multiple first rounders on defense which is also hard to replace. Texas, Bama, @Florida, @AM, @Auburn is also potentially the toughest schedule in the country.
- Florida-This is a darkhorse SEC team that will get a lot of love this offseason. They return a lot on offense but lose half the defense. The biggest reason for their hype is Kyle Trask played well and the other SEC powers have questions at QB. Along with that Florida has LSU at home and Georgia while also getting Ole Miss from the West. About as easy as you can get for an SEC schedule.
- Penn State-They return essentially 10 starters on offense and should have a top 20 defense. They play Virgina Tech out of conference which is good enough to be a solid win but not super tough. They also get OSU at home and if they pull that upset they can lose a game somewhere else and still get in without a worry.