The College Football Playoff rankings saw an interesting shake-up this week. Undefeated Oregon maintained its top position, while Georgia experienced a significant fall, dropping from third to twelfth place after a crushing 28-10 defeat to Ole Miss.
Ohio State followed closely behind Oregon, and together with Texas from the Southeastern Conference, the Big Ten occupied four of the top five spots. Texas, ranked third, secured a first-round bye in the playoff format.
Georgia’s loss had major implications, not only affecting their ranking but also pushing them out of the playoff picture. The Bulldogs are now the first team out, as No. 13 Boise State, representing the Mountain West, took the last spot as an automatic bid for the fifth-best conference champion.
Meanwhile, BYU sits at sixth in the rankings and would also secure a first-round bye as the Big 12 champion should they win their upcoming matches. Byes are granted to the four highest-ranked conference champions, which means that despite a recent defeat to Georgia Tech, Miami of the Atlantic Coast Conference is still able to bypass the first round and move straight to the quarterfinals, currently ranked ninth.
Other ranked teams include No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Indiana, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 10 Alabama, and No. 11 Ole Miss.
The College Football Playoff committee updates its rankings weekly, with the final poll set to be released on December 8. This ranking will determine the official matchups for college football’s inaugural 12-team playoff, which kicks off with first-round games on December 20-21, culminating in the championship game on January 20.
A major talking point this week was Georgia’s nine-spot drop in the rankings, particularly given their tough schedule this season. Michigan’s athletic director Warde Manuel, the chair of the selection committee, highlighted the importance of head-to-head results and body of work as factors influencing the rankings, noting, “Both Alabama and Ole Miss beat them head-to-head.”
Both the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten placed four teams in the latest projection of the playoff bracket. Additionally, undefeated Army from the American Athletic Conference moved up to No. 24, while Colorado, under the guidance of Coach Deion Sanders, entered the rankings at No. 17. If the Buffaloes win their next two games, they can earn a spot in the Big 12 title game.
Projected First-Round Matchups
The first-round games will take place on the home field of the higher-seeded teams. Based on the latest rankings, here are the anticipated matchups:
No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State: The Buckeyes would get a chance to avenge their narrow defeat against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship.
No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 6 Penn State: This matchup could reignite rivalry sparks, especially after the Rebels defeated the Nittany Lions 38-25 in the Peach Bowl earlier this year.
No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Indiana: With a storied history, Alabama has made 77 bowl appearances compared to Indiana’s 13.
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Tennessee: These teams have faced off eight times in the past, with Notre Dame winning the most recent encounter back in 2005.
Big Games This Week
This week features notable clashes, including Utah visiting Colorado and Kansas taking on BYU. Both Utah and Kansas showed strong performances last week, positioning themselves as potential contenders.
Tennessee’s matchup against Georgia is the only contest this week involving top-12 teams. A victory for the Bulldogs could catapult them back into playoff contention.
Clemson, ranked 20th, faces Pittsburgh. A win here would keep their hopes alive for a potential spot in the ACC title game.
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