A repeat thread from last year. Basically, if you are guaranteeing playoff bids to all 10 champs this is how to do it. Rivalry week turns into a quasi-Round-of-32.

DEFINING RULE: a team's last regular season game (their Rivalry Game), becomes the first tie-breaker in each conference race and, no team who loses their Rivalry Game (unless it is to a Top 10 team), can secure an at large bid. Ranks from today's AP release are used as a guide.

The Rivalry Game rules and a regional bracket emphasize the regional-ness of the sport and the importance of the regular season. A traditional 16-team tournament would often lead to teams resting the final week, secure in knowing they've cinched a playoff berth.

WEST (Sugar A):
4 Boise State @ 1 Alabama
3 Indiana @ 2 Iowa State

SOUTH (Rose A):
4 Marshall @ 1 Notre Dame
3 BYU @ 2 Texas A&M

NORTH (Rose B):
4 Buffalo @ 1 Ohio State
3 Miami @ 2 Cincinnati

EAST (Sugar B):
4 USC @ 1 Clemson
3 Florida @ 2 Coastal Carolina

The first round replaces CCGs. Top 6 Champs get #1 or #2 seeds (a home game). Max 3 teams per conference [considering replacing this with a rule excluding at larges who lost to 2 other playoff teams].

This bracket does not yet take into account the Rivalry Game Rule, as teams' last games have yet to be played. This means most Top 25 teams will have the opportunity to play into this playoff. For example, the upcoming Cincy-Tulsa game not only determines who gets the American auto-bid, but also eliminates the loser from at large consideration; it is a true Round-of-32 game.

Updated for this week. Here is the current bracket:

SOUTH (Sugar A)
4 UAB @ 1 Alabama
3 Miami(FL) @ 2 Cincinnati

WEST (Rose A)
4 USC @ 1 Notre Dame
3 Indiana @ 2 Iowa State

NORTH (Rose B)
4 Buffalo @ 1 Ohio State
3 Oklahoma @ 2 Texas A&M

EAST (Sugar B)
4 MW Champ @ 1 Clemson
3 Florida @ 2 Coastal Carolina

With so few games to be played this week, most teams have locked their spots. Here are the teams that could make a move this final week:

Alabama (vs. Arkansas) and Florida (vs. LSU) are in must-win situations. A loss by either should allow Georgia (vs. Missouri) into the bracket. A loss by both and Alabama stays in the bracket as SEC Champ, but loses their home game. Georgia AND 1 of Alabama/Florida would have to lose for the SEC to send fewer than 3 teams to the playoff; not happening.

The only other at-large spot up for grabs is Miami's. The Hurricanes need to beat UNC to keep it. Waiting in the wings are #14 BYU (vs. SDSU), #15 Northwestern (vs. Illinois), #17 Louisiana (BYE), #18 Tulsa (BYE), #19 Iowa (vs. Wisconsin), and #20 UNC (vs. Miami). Theoretically, #13 Oklahoma (BYE) could have their spot stolen too, if one of these teams wins big.

Coastal Carolina is set to host a playoff game! But, they need to get by Troy this weekend (or have the game cancelled). A loss would give the Sun Belt spot to Louisiana, who is likely to stay behind USC/Colorado in the hopes of getting a home playoff game.

The Pac-12 will be decided by ranking. USC (vs. UCLA) and Colorado (vs. Utah) are both 4-0, but USC holds the edge in the rankings. If both lose, the highest ranked of these two or Washington (who also lost their last game) will be chosen to get, at that point, a 4-seed.

Buffalo is undefeated in MAC play, but they'll need to defeat Akron to complete their season, otherwise the highest ranked of BSU/WMU will take the MAC spot.

In Conference USA, UAB (vs. Rice), is in with a win. UTSA would take the conference's spot, if the Dragons lose. Although Marshall has the best win-percentage, they unfortunately lost their final regular season game, losing all tie-breakers. For all conferences, two teams are tied if the difference in their win-percentage is < 2 / (sum-of-both-teams-games-played + 4). Marshall would be tied with UAB and UTSA; Marshall is out because of their final loss, and UAB trumps UTSA head-to-head.

San Jose State leads the MW in the AP Poll. They face a tough test vs. Nevada this final week. If the Spartans lose, Boise (vs. Wyoming) will take the crown. If the Broncos lose too, Nevada will earn the final playoff spot.

Coastal, USC, Buffalo, UAB, and SJSU all secure their playoff spots with wins. Florida loses and is replaced by Georgia. Miami loses and is replaced by BYU. The #3 seeds likely rotate regions in response.