Alabama could lose twice in conference play and still make the 12-team field. The Crimson Tide ... none of the traditional SEC powers made the final four. Texas, a new arrival to the conference ...

Even without former CFP champions Alabama and Georgia, the SEC extended its streak as the only conference with a final four ... of last season's four playoff teams to even make it into this ...

The Buckeyes are No. 1 after their national championship win, but which team is between them and runner-up Notre Dame?

Many expectations of how the 12-team format would work have not played out as planned, challenging many calls for immediate changes.

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts celebrates a defensive stop against Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals last week in New Orleans ... Smothering defenses have carried the last four teams still in the hunt ...

The winner claims the national championship in the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and longest college football season ever.