For the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff set to crown a champion on Jan. 20, 2024, several teams are poised to make their debut on the playoff stage. Notable candidates include USC, Oklahoma State, and Louisville, with each program boasting strong rosters and coaching to potentially secure a playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Group of Five teams are also gaining traction, with Boise State highlighted as a potential spoiler in the expanded format given their recent successes and talented players. The evolving landscape of college football raises questions about the future super conference, where several current ACC teams may not qualify, pointing to significant shifts in conference alignments. Amidst these changes, unranked teams like Virginia Tech and Iowa State are also being monitored as potential dark horses capable of making a playoff run. Overall, the upcoming season promises excitement and unpredictability as teams vie for playoff spots in a new competitive format.