Josh Pate laid out his College Football Playoff outlook, and while he has Clemson in the field, he doesn't expect them to make a deep run. The On3 analyst placed the Tigers as the No. 5 seed, which would give them a home matchup against Boise State in the opening round. Pate has no doubt about that one.

It's August and no games have been played, but that's not keeping ESPN's college football reporters from predicting the 12 schools that will make up the College Football Playoff beginning in December.

The power conferences have contracts with non-CFP bowls that expire after the current season, but old ties remain for the former Pac-12 members scattered across four different conferences. Like last year, the Pac-12’s previous bowls will choose from the league’s current (Oregon State and Washington State) and former members.