The only schools in recent memory which have had a comparatively easy path to the College Football Playoff are Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson. In years when the SEC or ACC were not very deep and not very stacked at the top, those three schools did not have an especially imposing set of obstacles on the road to the playoff.
When LSU, Auburn and Texas A&M struggled, the lane for Alabama was comparatively easier. Florida and Tennessee struggling created an opportunity for Georgia. Last year, of course, Tennessee became a lot better, so UGA had to work harder to make the playoff, but in prior seasons, Georgia did not face a murderer’s row to reach college football’s version of the Final Four.
As we turn the page to 2023, let’s consider which teams have a smoother path — at least on paper — compared to others. This doesn’t necessarily mean their paths are easy in an absolute sense, but they might be less daunting than the competition.