If 2025 goes right for the Florida Gators, it will end with a berth in the College Football Playoffs. Plenty of things will need to go right, but it isn't impossible to envision Florida going 10-2 and making the dance come December.
It's with that in mind that news of the CFP shaking up its seeding procedures is ultimately a good thing and will benefit Florida should they make it this year.
No More Automatic Byes: CFP's 2025 Straight Seeding Shakes Up Playoff Landscape
It was reported today that teams will be seeding straight 1-12 for the CFP in 2025, and there will be no automatic byes given. Last year, Boise State and Arizona State were granted a bye into the quarterfinals by proxy of being among the top four conference champions.
Texas and Penn State, who were ranked 3rd and 4th by the committee, ended up having to play in the first round because they wound up being seeded 5th and 6th due to the automatic byes.
The auto byes also created the situation where Tennessee and Indiana, both who were ranked 7th and 8th, had to go on the road in the first road because they were seeded 9th and 10th.
As a result of all the weird seeding, No. 1 Oregon had to play No. 6 Ohio State in the quarterfinals, while No. 3 Texas got to play No. 12 Arizona State, and No. 4 Penn State got to play No. 9 Boise State.
For Florida specifically, let's pretend they go 10-2 in 2025. If they wind up being ranked 7th like Tennessee was, they could host a playoff game in The Swamp against the No. 10 team rather than have to go on the road because someone from the Big 12 or ACC got an auto-bye ahead of them.
The only downside to straight seeding is it will lessen the importance of the SEC title game, but for the playoffs as a whole, this is the correct step to ensure a better format in 2025.