College Football Playoff: 31 teams that can make the CFP - ESPN

According to ESPN Research, there are 28 teams with at least a 10% chance to reach the College Football Playoff this season. One notable difference in the 12-team format this fall is that each Power 4 conference champion is guaranteed a spot in the field — which means that any team with a shot at winning the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC is a legitimate CFP contender. Notre Dame is also guaranteed an automatic bid if it finishes in the top 12 on Selection Day.

Beyond the wealthy blue bloods, though, how deep does the pool of playoff candidates really run? As leaders of the CFP continue to discuss how large the field should be in future iterations of the playoff, how many teams can legitimately compete for the national title?

«I think there's at least 10,» Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. «But the trick is, can you get those 10 teams into the 12-team field? That's the trick because there are some automatic qualifiers.»

«Probably year in and year out, I guess 15, somewhere around there,» Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. «I think when you look at last year, some of the guys who were right on the fence of getting in probably could have made a deep run. So my guess would be right around there, but it probably depends on the year.»

«Is it 14 or so, give or take?» Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.

«You may think I'm crazy, but I think 15 to 20,» South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said.

«Maybe 10, 15,» Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. «But are they healthy? There were some teams last year you might argue didn't have great seasons, but maybe they could have if other things would have happened.»

Here are 31 teams — that's right, 31 — that the CFP selection committee might consider at some point this fall. From favorites to long shots,