College football returns with updated conferences and a new playoff system

The GIST: Sound the alarm — college football returns in full this weekend, but things have changed quite a bit since Michigan strutted away with the signs ’ship last January. With three top-25 matchups highlighting opening week, here’s what you need to know before kickoff.

There’s a new playoff format: The College Football Playoff (CFP) has expanded from four to 12 (!!!) teams, who’ll compete in a new bracket-style tournament that adds eight more playoff games, not to mention more postseason excitement, viewership, and advertising money. Make it rain.

• Most importantly, the expanded format will help put an end to wild playoff snubs, like the one that kept undefeated FSU from competing for the title last season.

• There’ll always be bubble teams, but this change brings more programs — namely one- or even two-loss teams — into the hunt, amping up the end-of-season drama.

No. 1 Georgia is the team to beat: The Bulldogs lost just one game in the past two seasons and are projected to be similarly dominant this year (despite some major roster moves). But No. 2 Ohio State could give them a run for their money, especially after some big transfer portal pickups.

• Rounding out the top four are two teams looking to make a splash in their new conferences: No. 3 Oregon (Big Ten) and No. 4 Texas (SEC), both of whom will be powered by star quarterbacks (QB): Dillon Gabriel for the Ducks and Quinn Ewers for the Longhorns. Touchdowns, loading.

Don’t sleep on these Canadian footballers: A number of Canucks will be hitting the college gridiron this season. Two to know? Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke and Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor.

• Rourke is fighting back from a torn ACL suffered at Ohio and will be competing against top Big Ten squads for the first time, while Ayomanor boasts the Jon Cornish Trophy for best Canadian in college football, awarded after his All-American freshman year. Game on.