Oklahoma State was among the worst teams in the country last season, but it has an outside shot at being one of the best next season. OSU’s key to building its roster this offseason was gathering players who had seen limited opportunity but showcased talent at larger schools and players who had shown they needed a step up in competition to match their level of play.

College Football Playoff ditches first-round byes for highest-rated conference champions, embraces straight-seeding in 2025.

Under the new format, which was announced Thursday by the CFP’s management committee, the highest-ranked teams will have an advantage over conference champions.