In their first year of existence, the college football playoff selection committee got it right.
Picking Ohio State for the no. 4 position, leap-frogging over Baylor and TCU, was an unpopular pick at the time, but the Buckeyes rewarded the committee's faith in them with two decisive victories over Alabama and Oregon en route to a national title. If anything, the college football playoff should be considered a success if only because it gave us a different champion than an AP or BCS poll would've spat out.
Now that Ohio State has raised the trophy, there's one question on everybody's mind: can they repeat? Here's an entirely premature, way-too-early prediction for next year's final four playoff teams.
4. Alabama
Blake Sims is graduating but Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake will be back, barring anything unforeseen. You bet against Nick Saban at your own peril.
3. Oregon
Make no mistake about it -- the Ducks were embarrassed on Monday night. But their explosive offensive is one of the true constants in sports. It was running at a high level before Mariota, and it will continue to produce points after him as well. Arizona, Arizona State, and USC are quality teams, but none are ready to challenge Oregon for Pac-12 supremacy just yet.
2. Ohio State
Easy to forget that the Buckeyes won this title with a host of underclassmen in key roles. Those players are only going to get better next season. Braxton Miller is a likely transfer and Cardale Jones is draft eligible (whether he leaves is a different story), but they'll be in good hands with JT Barrett if need be. Will Jim Harbaugh's Michigan team give them fits?
1. TCU
The team that many thought got the short end of the stick in 2014-15 will come back strong and win it all in 2016. QB Trevone Boykin and multiple other starters are returning. This team is loaded and will be playing with something to prove all season.
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