247 Sports analyst Josh Pate has laid out his predictions for the college football season. That includes predicting the College Football Playoff field for the 2022 season with a pair of B1G programs making the cut.

Here is how Pate sees the CFP matchups shaking out:

  • No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Michigan (Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl)
  • No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Utah (VRBO Fiesta Bowl)

Pate admitted the selection of Michigan in this scenario as a non-conference champ will turn some heads:

“I’ve got Michigan in the Playoff despite not winning the Big Ten,” Pate explained. “That’s going to be a really interesting and dicey scenario, but I think they’ll be good enough.”

Pate also has Utah entering the picture, bringing the Pac-12 back to the Playoff:

“First time in several years the Pac-12 will be represented, that’s a 1-loss Pac-12 champ,” said Pate.

In the end, Pate does like Alabama vs. Ohio State in the championship game, a rematch of the 2021 national title. However, he likes Alabama and Nick Saban to take the crown after losing to Georgia last season.

“The way we would see that play out is a national championship rematch of a couple of years ago,” said Pate. “Alabama vs. Ohio State…And the prediction there is Alabama wins the national championship.”

Can the Crimson Tide run the table as a No. 1 team, or will the Buckeyes get their first title of the Ryan Day era?