The anticipation is palpable as the college football world eagerly awaits the first unveiling of the College Football Playoff selection committee's rankings for the new 12-team bracket. Fans and teams alike are on the edge of their seats, eager to see which programs will emerge as the frontrunners in the race for the coveted national championship.

Predicting the Playoff Contenders: A Bracket Challenge Like No Other

Dissecting the Early Rankings

The initial College Football Playoff rankings, set to be revealed on Tuesday, November 5th, will provide a glimpse into the selection committee's thought process. Experts and enthusiasts alike will scrutinize the rankings, analyzing the criteria used to determine the top teams and the potential implications for the final field. This early snapshot will set the stage for the intense debates and discussions that will unfold in the weeks leading up to the final announcement.

Flipping the Script: Forecasting the Final Bracket

To add an extra layer of excitement to the proceedings, our very own David Ubben, Ralph Russo, and Damien Harris will be hosting a live event on the Until Saturday YouTube channel and social feeds on Monday, November 4th. During this interactive session, the trio will not only discuss the teams they believe will be in the initial top 12 rankings but will also venture into the realm of predictions, sharing their forecasts for the final College Football Playoff field on December 8th. Viewers will have the opportunity to participate in a bracket challenge, testing their own prognostication skills against the experts.

The Bracket Challenge: Your Chance to Win Big

The real excitement, however, lies in the opportunity for our readers to join the fray. We are inviting all of you to enter your own predictions for the final 12-team College Football Playoff field, with the chance to win a free year's subscription or extension to The Athletic. The scoring system is simple: 1 point for each team you correctly identify in the field, and an additional 3 points for accurately predicting a team's seed. To break any ties, participants will also be asked to guess the total points scored in the SEC and Big 10 championship games.

A Thrilling Month of Football Ahead

As we approach the final stretch of the college football season, the next few weeks promise to be nothing short of exhilarating. The unveiling of the initial rankings, the live event with our experts, and the bracket challenge will all contribute to the growing anticipation and excitement surrounding the College Football Playoff. Fans and teams alike will be on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the final field that will be announced on December 8th. The journey to the national championship has never been more captivating, and we can't wait to see how it all unfolds.