The five automatic bids went to the five highest-ranked conference champions in the latest CFP rankings: No. 1 Indiana (Big Ten), No. 3 Georgia (SEC), No. 4 Texas Tech (Big 12), No. 20 Tulane (American) and No. 24 James Madison (Sun Belt).

Nobody paying attention for the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana – yes, Indiana – leading the way into this year's College Football Playoff.

Miami and Duke (along with Notre Dame, who can factor into the ACC bowl picture if not in the CFP) are on the CFP bubble entering the Dec. 7 bracket reveal.