A 9-3 record would give some SEC teams a chance at playoff qualification, but 10-2 is a golden ticket. Connelly’s latest formula gives 10 SEC teams a 5% chance or better of finishing at least 10-2. Strictly speaking, these percentages do not represent the chance that a team will make the playoff — only its chance of finishing 10-2 or better.

College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark told Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports on Wednesday that the CFP will now include player availability and injury reports from its participating teams.

Even with the expanded format, a lot has to go right for teams to punch their tickets to the College Football Playoff. One factor can make or break a postseason push, like the Miami defense did last season when the Hurricanes fell just short of their playoff debut.