Can Alabama win the College Football Playoff again?

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That’s the No. 1 question heading into the third year of the four-team playoff that has produced drama and thrills, and yes, even a little angst. Alabama is looking for another national championship under Nick Saban. Other contenders, including Clemson and 2014 national champion Ohio State, are in the mix.

So, how will the bowls shake out? Here are Sporting News' way-too-early predictions for 80 FBS teams in all 41 bowls of the 2016 college football season — all the way to the College Football Playoff.

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Cure Bowl: East Carolina vs. Troy

Marmot Boca Raton Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Florida Atlantic

Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State vs. UTEP

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl: California vs. San Diego State

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Arkansas State

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Marshall

Miami Beach Bowl: Ohio vs. Tulsa

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Toledo vs. New Mexico

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs. Air Force

GoDaddy Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Georgia Southern

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Middle Tennessee State

Hawaii Bowl: Boise State vs. Rice

St. Petersburg Bowl: Duke vs. South Florida

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl: Indiana vs. Southern Miss

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Nebraska vs. Georgia Tech

Camping World Independence Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Western Kentucky

Foster Farms Bowl: Northwestern vs. UCLA

Military Bowl: Boston College vs. Memphis

Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota vs. N.C. State

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Navy vs. Kansas State

Russell Athletic Bowl: North Carolina vs. Texas

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Nevada vs. Louisiana Tech

AdvoCare Texas Bowl: TCU vs. Texas A&M

Birmingham Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Temple

Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Auburn

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Miami, Fla. vs. Arkansas

National Funding Holiday Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Louisville vs. Washington State

Outback Bowl: Michigan State vs. LSU

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl: Iowa vs. Georgia

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: West Virginia vs. Florida

TaxSlayer Bowl: Penn State vs. Notre Dame

Valero Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Washington

TicketCity Cactus Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Utah

SN RANKINGS: Top 25 QBs for 2016 | Top 25 RBs

New Year’s Day Six

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Baylor vs. Ole Miss

Goodyear Cotton Bowl: USC vs. Houston

Capital One Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Tennessee

Rose Bowl Game: Michigan vs. Stanford

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (Playoff semifinal): Ohio State vs. Alabama

Fiesta Bowl (Playoff semifinal): Clemson vs. Oklahoma

College Football Championship Game: Alabama vs. Clemson

