Des Moines Register

The college football season kicks off this weekend with Week 0 games. A full slate of games is scheduled for Week 1 on Labor Day weekend.

The 12-team College Football Playoff begins with quarterfinals Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Semifinals are Jan. 8-9, and the championship game is Jan. 19 in Miami.

Des Moines Register sports staffers took their best shot at predicting the national champion. Check back in late January to see how we did.

Travis Hines (Cyclones columnist): Ohio State — The NIL area may have opened access to national relevance across the sport, but it's also concentrated talent in the sport's top brands. The Buckeyes make it two in a row.

James Kramer (sports editor): Penn State — The Nittany Lions capture their first national championship in nearly four de

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