For decades, college football traditionalists maintained that a playoff would ruin the regular season. Instead, it made it even more relevant. With more teams involved in the national title chase, more games matter, as seen last season with six teams holding legitimate cases to be included in the inaugural College Football Playoff.
The new postseason was as popular as predicted, with fourth-seeded Ohio State validating the more inclusive format by winning the national championship. The Buckeyes may be even better this season, but the second playoff season easily could end up with another unexpected champion.
Here, The Post breaks down the Top 25 entering the season:
1. Ohio State
For the Buckeyes, anything less than another playoff appearance would be stunning. Selected the first unanimous preseason No. 1 in the AP Poll’s history, Ohio State is loaded and experienced on both sides of the ball. Whoever wins the quarterback competition, J.T. Barrett or Cardale Jones, will have a wealth of options, while the defense is led by future Sunday star Joey Bosa.
2. TCU
The Horned Frogs may forever wonder how they missed last year’s playoff, but it may end up serving as the catalyst to a national title run. The second-highest scoring team in the nation last season (46.5 points), TCU’s offense should only be better with Heisman candidate quarterback Trevone Boykin back for his senior season, along with star receiver Josh Doctson.
3. Alabama
The Crimson Tide became the first upset victim of the playoff era, falling after Blake Sims threw three interceptions against Ohio State. Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin enters his second season with similar uncertainty under center, but a ground game carried by Derrick Henry and another stacked Nick Saban defense will keep Alabama in the thick of the playoff race.
4. Baylor
Even without Bryce Petty, Baylor brings back more returning players than its rival TCU, which includes the entire offensive line and an exciting receiving corps headed by KD Cannon and Corey Coleman. It should ease the transition of Seth Russell into the driver’s seat of the nation’s highest-scoring offense.
5. Auburn
Former Florida coach Will Muschamp must fix the porous Tigers defense, which allowed 255.5 yards on the ground per game a year ago (15th worst in the country). Fortunately for Auburn’s new defensive coordinator, he will have stud defensive end Carl Lawson in the fold to do so.
6. USC
Steve Sarkisian’s second season may result in the return of the Trojans to national-power status, led by senior Cody Kessler. Though the Pac-12 is loaded this season, the Heisman candidate quarterback — who last season had a 69.7 completion percentage, 39 touchdowns and five interceptions — could help ultra-athletic USC claim its first national title in more than a decade.
7. Michigan State
The Spartans look like the only team standing between Ohio State and the playoff, with enough balance on each side of the ball to dethrone the champs. Senior quarterback Connor Cook will excel again behind one of the nation’s best offensive lines, but the reliable defense will have to overcome the loss of linebacker Ed Davis, who recently suffered a season-ending knee injury.
8. Oregon
Eastern Washington graduate transfer Vernon Adams has the unenviable job of replacing Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, but he will have plenty of help. Running back Royce Freeman, who rushed for 1,365 yards and 18 touchdowns last season as a true freshman, should keep the Ducks among the nation’s highest-scoring teams.
9. Florida State
Even with quarterback Jameis Winston gone, the Seminoles’ offseason was defined by offseason issues, though Florida State caught a break when star running back Dalvin Cook was found not guilty of battery. Questions remain on offense with the loss of Winston and star receiver Rashad Greene, but the defense quietly will stand out again, led by stud safety Jalen Ramsey.
10. Ole Miss
The stingiest defense in the country (16 ppg) shouldn’t lose a beat this season, with seven starters back, including defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and cornerback Tony Conner. Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell rebounding from a broken leg is paramount to the Rebels supporting the top-notch defense.
11. Georgia
Sophomore Nick Chubb carries on the tradition of great Bulldogs backs, but he may not be able to stop another less proud tradition in Athens — falling short of expectations. Georgia hasn’t won an SEC title since 2005 and will find the task as challenging as ever, with cross-division games against Alabama and Auburn.
12. UCLA
Expectations are sky-high in Westwood, where UCLA returns 18 starters, including running back Paul Perkins — the Pac-12’s leading rusher a year ago with 1,565 yards, second most in UCLA history — and do-it-all linebacker Myles Jack. The one major uncertainty? Quarterback, where true freshman Josh Rosen — the top-ranked QB recruit in the country — gets the nod.
13. Clemson
Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson may be the most exciting player in the nation, though he is no lock to make it through the season after appearing in eight games as a freshman. The defense suffered significant losses, but Watson’s dual-threat skills can single-handedly win shootouts, with the team aided by a home-friendly schedule against its toughest opponents.
14. Notre Dame
The Irish bandwagon is getting full, with 16 returning starters from a team that opened 6-0 before quarterback Everett Golson’s avalanche of turnovers. Malik Zaire, who replaces Golson, will be joined by potential a first-round linebacker, Jaylon Smith, and game-breaking wide receiver Will Fuller, bringing title talk back to South Bend.
15. Arizona State
The Sun Devils have produced consecutive double-digit win seasons for the first time in more than four decades — and may only get better. An experienced defense will provide the foundation for what could be a playoff sleeper season, while fifth-year senior quarterback Mike Bercovici begins his first year as a starter after a successful three-game cameo last year.
16. LSU
With a spectacular secondary, Les Miles’ defense will shine again, but the spotlight will stay on sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, who could become the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman since 2009. Ultimately, the uncertainty at quarterback could keep the Tigers from returning to the top of the SEC.
17. Arizona
The Wildcats could be the best offensive team in the conference, with virtually everyone back from last year’s Pac-12 South championship team, which ranked 30th in the nation in scoring (34.5 ppg). With sophomore quarterback Anu Solomon, running back Nick Wilson, an incredibly talented receiving corps and a veteran offensive line, Arizona could average 40 points a game.
18. Georgia Tech
Following a strong finish to last season, the Yellow Jackets enter with a legitimate opportunity to take the ACC. Bringing back quarterback Justin Thomas and four offensive linemen, Georgia Tech’s triple-option will again test teams’ patience with their frustrating ground attack, which ranked second in the nation last season with over 340 yards per game.
19. Boise State
The Broncos possess overwhelming power on their experienced offensive and defensive lines, capable of carrying the team to an undefeated season for the third time in the past decade. Nevertheless, playing in the Mountain West, Boise State’s underwhelming strength of schedule could keep them left out come playoff selection time— just like in the BCS era.
20. Stanford
Sophomore Christian McCaffrey — the son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey — fills the void in the backfield, potentially giving senior quarterback Kevin Hogan the dominant runner that was sorely needed last fall. The Cardinal will need to score early and often, after their top-rated defense was decimated by graduation.
21. Oklahoma
The pressure is on for Bob Stoops in Norman. It has been seven years since the Sooners were actual title contenders — a lifetime at Oklahoma — and after last year’s 8-5 campaign, Stoops made several coaching changes. Bulldozing sophomore running back Samaje Perine, who set an FBS record with 427 rushing yards against Kansas, will be essential to the Sooners’ success.
22. Missouri
The Tigers’ strength is no longer their pass rush. They lost Shane Ray and Markus Golden to the NFL, while their best returning lineman, Harold Brantley, will miss the season after suffering multiple injuries in a car accident. Junior quarterback Maty Mauk could take a big step forward behind an experienced offensive line that will create holes for running back Russell Hansbrough.
23. Wisconsin
New coach Paul Chryst starts his tenure after the team lost three starters on the offensive line and Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon. Oh, and the Badgers open the season against Alabama. But, there is good news, with senior quarterback Joel Stave back and the defense, anchored by outside linebacker Vince Biegel, in position to take advantage of a soft schedule following the opener.
24. Tennessee
The Volunteers’ long-awaited return to the SEC’s elite may finally be near after averaging less than seven wins per season over the past seven years. Third-year coach Butch Jones’s squad is young and improved, secured with skill position players and a balanced defense. The weight of expectations may end up being the biggest challenge of all.
25. Arkansas
The folks in Fayetteville should tone down their excitement. Yes, Arkansas finished strong, winning three of its last four games, which included wins over LSU and Ole Miss, but after starting 0-5 in the SEC there was no pressure to perform. More troubling is the loss of star running back Jonathan Williams, who will miss the season because of a left foot injury.