12-team College Football Playoff prediction undergoes changes after massive losses
This weekend gave us a few matchups with massive College Football Playoff implications despite the season still only being in Week Two. We've started to see conference play kickoff and, in the weeks, to come we'll see more quality matchups rather than the teams at the top of the playoff picture facing small school opponents.
That's not to disparage the smaller schools as we saw Northern Illinois knock off Notre Dame in South Bend and Nicholls State gave LSU a tough game at home. We also had what was supposed to be a clash of titans between Texas and Michigan but, the Wolverines clearly aren't nearly the team they were last season.
With Week Two's games now in the books, here is our latest projection for the College Football Playoff.
Rank | Team | Why They're Here | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Georgia | SEC Champion | 1 |
2. | Ohio State | Big Ten Champion | 2 |
3. | Miami | ACC Champion | 3 |
4. | Oklahoma State | Big 12 Champion | 4 |
5. | Texas | At Large | 5 |
6. | Tennessee | At Large | 8 |
7. | Alabama | At Large | 6 |
8. | Oregon | At Large | 7 |
9. | Ole Miss | At Large | 10 |
10. | Penn State | At Large | 11 |
11. | USC | At Large | Unranked |
12. | Northern Illinois | MAC Champion | Unranked |
There's no change in the top five as four of the five teams looked dominant while Oklahoma State pulled off a gutsy win against Arkansas. Utah is the other main threat in the Big 12 to win the conference but, given Cam Rising's injury on Saturday we still give Oklahoma State the edge. Texas picked up a massive win in Ann Arbor but, Georgia will remain the favorite in the SEC until someone knocks themm off.
Tennessee pulls ahead of Alabama and Oregon this week as the Volunteers demolished NC State while Alabama struggled with USF and Oregon once again needed every minute of the game to beat Boise State.
Notre Dame and Liberty are the two teams we have falling out of the 12-team field as Notre Dame was stunned at home while Liberty needed a fourth-quarter comeback to knock off New Mexico. Entering the field we have USC as they currently have one of the biggest wins over LSU and Northern Illinois who cracked the top 25 this week and could easily win the MAC.
On the brink of entering the College Football Playoff are Missouri, Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Nebraska as the teams continue to impress but, we'd like to see them pick up a bigger win.
The Week to come in College Football
This week we'll see a few big matchups but, we've started to see that the upsets we least expect have been the ones that come true. Sixth Ranked Missouri will host 24th ranked Boston College and a win for the Tigers would vault them into our playoff projection. Top ranked Georgia travels to Kentucky in a game that the Wildcats will try everything they can to pull off a shocker. 4th ranked Alabama travels to Wisconsin and if the Tide's struggles continue Wisconsin could shock the Tide.
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