As the 2017 season gets started in earnest tonight with Ohio State traveling to Indiana (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), it's time to break out the crystal ball and predict the College Football Playoff field and eventual champion. It's no surprise that Alabama and Ohio State dominate these lists, but some picks are sure to surprise (hello, Stanford!)

ESPN EXPERTS' PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS Name Champion Playoff Playoff Playoff Kirk Herbstreit Lee Corso Desmond Howard Rece Davis Booger McFarland Todd McShay Chip Kelly Greg McElroy Ivan Maisel Adam Rittenberg Myron Medcalf Mark Schlabach Joel Anderson Ryan McGee Heather Dinich Tommy Tuberville Dari Nowkhah Kevin Negandhi Rod Gilmore Jen Lada Adnan Virk Andre Ware Joe Tessitore Brad Edwards Edward Aschoff Alex Scarborough Beth Mowins Tom Luginbill Jordan Rodgers Chris Low Jake Trotter Andrea Adelson Sam Khan Jr. Dan Murphy David Hale Mitch Sherman Kyle Bonagura Tom VanHaaren