ESPN Computer's 8 Dark Horse Playoff Contenders
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish snaps the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
The College Football Playoff is soon expected to expand to 12 teams, but for the 2021 season, it will remain at four.
ESPN's computer model, the Football Power Index, has several dark horse College Football Playoff contenders heading into the 2021 season.
According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the following eight teams all have between a 1 percent to 5 percent chance of making the College Football Playoff.
These eight teams are dark horse College Football Playoff contenders heading into the 2021 season.
1. Miami Hurricanes - 1.0 percent chance
Credit: Eliot J. Schechter /Allsport
2. Cincinnati Bearcats - 1.2 percent chance
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
3. Texas Longhorns - 2.2 percent chance
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
4. Florida Gators - 2.7 percent chance
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
5. North Carolina Tar Heels - 4.2 percent chance
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
6. Wisconsin Badgers - 4.4 percent chance
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
7. Oregon Ducks - 4.8 percent chance
(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
8. Oklahoma State Cowboys - 4.8 percent chance
(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
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You can view ESPN's Football Power Index's complete College Football Playoff projections here.
