The first year of the expanded College Football Playoff produced a national champion (Ohio State) that wouldn’t have qualified under the old format, the top four seeds all falling in the quarterfinals and the two semifinals contests giving us ample drama.

A year later, there is no clear-cut favorite.

Preseason No. 1 Texas has a new starting quarterback you may have heard of: Arch Manning, nephew of Eli and Peyton.

Defending champion Ohio State remains loaded.