Josh Pate laid out his College Football Playoff outlook, and while he has Clemson in the field, he doesn't expect them to make a deep run. The On3 analyst placed the Tigers as the No. 5 seed, which would give them a home matchup against Boise State in the opening round. Pate has no doubt about that one.

It's August and no games have been played, but that's not keeping ESPN's college football reporters from predicting the 12 schools that will make up the College Football Playoff beginning in December.

Here are five college football predictions and round-by-round picks for the college football playoffs: There are stars everywhere you look on Clemson’s roster. At quarterback. At wide receiver and linebacker. On both the offensive and defensive lines.