Indiana Hoosiers

Change is on the way for the College Football Playoff. On Thursday, a working group from the CFB Playoff proposed a 12-team format to replace the current four-team iteration in the near future. Some of the specifics are still to be determined, but the new format will feature six guaranteed positions to conference champions and six at-large spots. Also, first-round games will be held on campus sites, with the second round and semifinals shifting to bowls. The national championship will remain at a neutral site.

The road to the 2021 Big Ten Championship travels through Columbus once again, as Ohio State is Athlon’s pick to claim the league title. The Buckeyes are a heavy favorite in the Big Ten predictions for 2021 and another undefeated regular season should be within reach. Penn State and Indiana rank inside of the projected top 25 for 2021 out of the East Division, with Michigan, Maryland, Rutgers and Michigan State rounding out the predicted order of finish.

The 2021 college football season is scheduled to officially begin on Saturday, Aug. 28, but it's never too early to start thinking about top 25 rankings and projecting what might transpire this fall. Each FBS season brings plenty of surprises, disappointments and unexpected teams emerging in the national title picture. However, that’s not the case at the top, as the list of favorites for this year starts with familiar contenders: Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Georgia.

The 2022 NFL Draft is slated to take place from April 28-30 in Las Vegas. While the 2021 college football season has yet to unfold, it's never too early to take a look at which quarterbacks could top the rankings or the wish list for teams next spring. The pool of top prospects at quarterback is headlined by North Carolina's Sam Howell, Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler, and USC's Kedon Slovis. The next tier is led by Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder, Georgia's JT Daniels, Arizona State's Jayden Daniels, and Liberty's Malik Willis.