On Tuesday night, the first College Football Playoff rankings of the year were released. That means we have a baseline to predict the 12-team bracket, and CBS Sports has updated its predictions for CFP and the full bowl slate after Week 10.
The thing to note is that there are still a lot of soccer games left. This means that the predictions may not be exactly the same as the original rankings or the expected 12 team positions. For example, Oregon State was the No. 1 team in the original rankings, but CBS Sports projects Ohio State to win the Big Ten and knock the Ducks out in the first round.
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee will rank the top 25 teams throughout the season, as has been done since its inception in 2014. The difference, however, is that those rankings will be the seeds for the 12-team spots at the end of the year. The top five conference champion teams will compete, with the top four teams receiving first-round byes and the next top seven teams rounding out the games.
Therefore, seeds are different from rankings. In the first CFP rankings release, Ohio State University was a good example. The Buckeyes were the No. 2 team, but Ohio State fell to the No. 5 seed as Oregon State was projected to be the Big Ten champion.
The CFP landscape will certainly continue to change, with some important matchups coming up in November. Here are CBS Sports’ predictions for Week 10 and beyond.
1. Georgia
Georgia is the No. 3 team in the initial CFP rankings, but CBS Sports projects the Bulldogs to win the SEC and become the No. 1 seed in the bracket. Kirby Smart’s group has been on a roll since the loss to Alabama, and the intrigue surrounding this week’s matchup with Ole Miss, which could have playoff implications, is even higher.
Georgia has won its last three games even though Carson Beck has struggled, throwing three interceptions in consecutive weeks. Still, the vaunted defense is impressive and the Bulldogs are in the thick of the CFP race heading into Week 11.
2. Ohio
Even with the loss to Oregon State last month, Ohio State is squarely in the spotlight in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive with a decisive win over Penn State on the road in Week 10.
The schedule will be important for the Buckeyes as they aim to return to the Big Ten Championship. They will play undefeated Indiana, which is tied with Oregon for first place, on Nov. 23 in a game that could affect Ohio State’s chances of advancing to Indianapolis.
3. Miami
Miami, which has a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback, enters Week 11 undefeated. The Hurricanes are the dominant force in the ACC and are tied for first in the conference standings with a shot at qualifying for the CFP.
Cam Ward fit in well with Shannon Dawson’s system, ranking third in the nation with 349.6 passing yards per game and an FBS-leading 29 passing touchdowns. Miami is the projected ACC champion, according to CBS Sports, with Georgia Tech looming this week.
4. Iowa
Iowa State suffered its first loss of the season last week, adding to the chaos in the Big 12. But CBS Sports projects the Cyclones to emerge as the fourth-highest-ranked conference champions in the group and clinch the final bye.
Iowa State finished No. 17 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, with the only other Big 12 team in the top 25 being No. 9 BYU. If things continue like this, both teams will face each other in the Big 12. A championship with a first-round bye at stake.
No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Oregon State
Boise State, ranked fifth-highest as a conference champion by CBS Sports, will be the No. 12 seed in the bracket. The Broncos are on track to represent the Group of 5, led by an offensive line led by Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty at running back.
If the Ducks lose in the Big Ten title game, No. 12 seed Boise State will travel to Oregon State, according to CBS Sports. This game would have had plenty of storylines considering the two teams met earlier this year, but it ultimately came down to a last-second field goal.
No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Penn State
Alabama, which suffered two losses, presented an interesting case to the CFP committee ahead of the first ranking announcement. But the Crimson Tide is still in the spotlight, with this week’s game against LSU, which could essentially be an elimination game, projected to be the No. 9 seed by CBS Sports.
Meanwhile, Penn State made headlines for its ranking after losing to Ohio State last week. It’s the Nittany Lions’ only loss of the year so far, and even if they bounce back, they’ll likely continue to hover in the CFP.
No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 6 Texas
Despite a scare last week against Kentucky, the University of Tennessee is still lurking in the College Football Playoff conversation as the No. 7 seed in the projected bracket and the No. 8 seed. The Volantes enter Week 11’s matchup with Mississippi State at 7-1, and despite the loss to Arkansas, they still slot into the projected 12-team slot.
CBS Sports predicts the Volunteers will face No. 6 seed Texas in an all-SEC first-round game in Austin. The Longhorns won last week against Vanderbilt, but from a CFP perspective, all eyes are on the final game of the season against Texas A&M.
No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 7 BYU
Notre Dame, an independent, cannot earn a first-round bye in the 12-team CFP. The Fighting Irish’s best hope is hosting a first-round game, but a loss to Northern Illinois could have a long-term impact on their chances, even if they’ve performed well since then. be.
Meanwhile, some see BYU trying to take advantage of a wide-open Big 12 to gain more respect. The Cougars’ offense is firing on all cylinders, averaging 35.1 points and appears to be on track for the conference championship game.
Remaining postseason bowl predictions
January 4th
Bahama Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Western Michigan
January 3rd.
Dukes Mayo Bowl: Clemson vs. Minnesota
First Responder Bowl: Navy vs. Georgia Southern
January 2nd
Gator Bowl: Louisville vs. Ole Miss
December 31st
Texas Bowl: TCU vs. LSU
Citrus Bowl: Indiana vs. Missouri
Sun Bowl: Duke vs. Washington
LilliaQuest Bowl: Iowa vs. Texas A&M
December 30th
Music City Bowl: Illinois vs. Arkansas
December 28th
Independence Bowl: Army vs. Oregon State
Alamo Bowl: Kansas State vs. Washington State
Military Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Memphis
Arizona Bowl: Fresno State vs. Bowling Green
Poptarts Bowl: SMU vs. Texas Tech
New Mexico Bowl: San Diego State vs. North Texas
Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse vs. Wisconsin
Fenway Bowl: North Carolina vs. USF
December 27th
Las Vegas Bowl: South Carolina vs. Colorado
Holiday Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Arizona State
Liberty Bowl: Baylor vs. Vanderbilt
Birmingham Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Wake Forest
Armed Forces Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Charlotte
December 26th
68 Ventures Bowl: Buffalo vs. Arkansas State
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: West Virginia vs. Michigan
Detroit Bowl: Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan
December 24th
Hawaii Bowl: Marshall vs. Sam Houston State University
December 23rd
Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio State vs. Colorado State University
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Liberty vs. Tulane
December 20th
Gasparilla Bowl: Nebraska vs. Virginia Tech
Cure Bowl: East Carolina vs. UCF
December 19th
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana
December 18th
Los Angeles Bowl: UNLV vs. USC
Boca Raton Bowl: Miami (Ohio State) vs. UW
December 17th
Frisco Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Texas State
December 14th
Camellia Bowl: Toledo vs. James Madison
