Oregon has been the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff Rankings as the very beginning, and the Ducks will enter the CFP in that exact spot. The Ducks will be the top seed in the field after beating Penn State 45-37 for the big Ten championship on saturday. oregon is the lone remaining undefeated team in college football, so this is an easy call for the committee. The Ducks will play their quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl.
No. 5 Georgia knocked off second-ranked Texas 22-19 in overtime for the SEC championship in Atlanta in an epic battle that saw the Bulldogs change quarterbacks after starter Carson Beck was injured right before halftime. Beck came back in to hand off on the final play of the game after his backup, Gunner Stockton, was injured during the overtime period.
The Bulldogs should be ranked second and earn the No. 2 seed in the CFP. They will play their first game in the Sugar Bowl.
Texas should not suffer too badly after the loss, however. I expect the Longhorns to stay ahead of Notre Dame for the No. 5 spot in the rankings and earn the 5-seed in the field. Typically, teams that lose competitive conference championship games to lower-ranked teams do not suffer too badly when the final rankings are released, but the Longhorns lost as the higher-ranked team. Georgia will, of course, jump them, but there is no real reason for Texas to fall behind the other teams below them.
Penn State is projected to slot in at No. 4 in the rankings and host a first-round game as a 6-seed following the loss to Oregon. The Nittany Lions only lose a spot because Georgia jumped them.
Notre Dame will still be the top ranked of the teams that were idle this weekend. CFP committee chair Warde Manual said this week that the teams not playing would be kept in the same order among themselves as last week in the final rankings released on Sunday. He also noted that those teams could see their rankings change as teams that did play move about in the rankings. This is how the committee has always operated, but it is the first time a committee chairman said it out loud.
Quarterfinals
Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl | (1) Oregon vs. (8/9) Winner |
Jan. 1 | Sugar Bowl | (2) Georgia vs. (7/10) Winner |
Jan. 1 | Peach Bowl | (4) Arizona State vs.(5/12) winner | Fiesta bowl | (3) Boise State vs. (6/11) Winner |
First round
Dec. 20 or 21 | Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium | (5) Texas vs. (12) Clemson | (4) Arizona State |
Dec. 20 or 21 | Ohio Stadium | (8) Ohio State vs. (9) Tennessee | (1) Oregon |
Dec. 20 or 21 | Beaver Stadium | (6) Penn State vs. (11) Alabama | (3) Boise State |
Dec. 20 or 21 | Notre Dame Stadium | (7) Notre Dame vs. (10) Indiana | (2) Georgia |
Much to the dismay of ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, No. 8 SMU is projected to drop out of the CFP field after a heartbreaking 34-31 last-second loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. The Tigers may or may not jump SMU in the rankings, but I am projecting that they will. It doesn’t really matter, though; either way, I have the Mustangs dropping below Alabama, and that is all it takes to keep them out.
Clemson’s win is a boon for Arizona State, which will now get the fourth bye and seed as the fourth highest-ranked conference champion. The Tigers now assume that fifth automatic qualifying place and will be the 12-seed in the CFP. I am projecting the Sun Devils to finish
The third conference champion to earn a bye is Boise State. the Broncos capped off a 12-1 season with a 21-7 win over No. 20 UNLV in the Mountain West Championship Game, which gave Boise State a home-and-home sweep of the rebels. I am projecting the Broncos to pass Indiana for the No. 8 spot in the rankings after Ohio State and Tennessee because of the quality of their wins. Boise State has the two ranked wins over UNLV plus two other wins over teams with at least eight wins.
When the Broncos played at Oregon, the best team in this field, the game went to the wire with Boise State falling three points short.None of these qualities apply to Indiana, although the Hoosiers still have the second-best average margin of victory in the nation, only.03 ppg behind Ohio State. Note that Boise State passing Indiana does not change either team’s CFP seed from last week because the Broncos get a bye.
The rest of the playoff field is filled with the Hoosiers and Alabama as the 10 and 11 seeds.
How does Georgia’s quarterback situation affect their chances in the Sugar Bowl?
Time.news Interview: The College Football Playoff Landscape
Editor: Welcome to time.news, where we dive deep into the most pressing topics today. Joining us is college football expert, Dr. Emily Jones, an analyst who has been following the College Football Playoff closely. Emily, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Jones: Thank you for having me! It’s an exciting time in college football, especially with the playoffs right around the corner.
Editor: Absolutely! Let’s talk about the Oregon Ducks. They’ve been at the top of the College Football Playoff Rankings all season long and solidified their position with that significant victory over Penn State. How impressive has their run been this year?
Dr. Jones: oregon’s performance this season has been nothing short of extraordinary. Being the only remaining undefeated team in college football adds a lot of weight to their accomplishments. Their ability to beat Penn State, especially in the Big Ten Championship, showcases not only their offensive capabilities but also their defensive strength. They have certainly earned their spot as the number one seed.
Editor: It’s fascinating to see how the Ducks are entering the playoffs. They’re set to play in the Rose Bowl, a historic venue. What do you think their chances are of advancing past the quarterfinals?
Dr. Jones: I think they have a very good chance.The Rose Bowl is a significant venue, and Oregon has shown they can perform under pressure. Their balanced attack and depth on the roster will serve them well against any opponent. If they maintain their focus and execution,they should advance.
Editor: Now,shifting gears to Georgia. After a dramatic win over texas in overtime, they’re expected to be the number two seed. How crucial was that game for them, especially considering their quarterback situation?
Dr. Jones: That game was monumental for Georgia. Transitioning quarterbacks mid-game is always a challenge,but it showed their resilience. When Carson Beck got injured, Gunner Stockton stepped up, and even though he faced difficulties, Beck’s return showcased his leadership and determination. This kind of grit will be essential as they head into the Sugar Bowl.
Editor: It seems like Texas is in an interesting position.Even with the loss, they might not drop significantly in the rankings. Can you explain why that’s the case?
Dr.Jones: Yes, absolutely. Texas’s loss was competitive, and they were higher-ranked going into the game. The committee tends to view losses in conference championships more leniently, particularly to teams that are lower-ranked. Because of this, Texas should retain their No. 5 status, which allows them a favorable matchup in the playoffs.
Editor: And what about Penn State? After their loss to Oregon, they’re projected to be the fourth seed. How do you see them performing in the playoffs?
Dr. Jones: penn State is still a very formidable team despite the loss. They’ll have the benefit of playing at home for their first-round game, and with a strong defense and capable offense, they could surprise some people. If they regroup and adjust to what they learned from their loss to Oregon, they can make a strong push for the semifinals.
Editor: Lastly, Notre Dame is in a unique position as one of the teams that didn’t play this week. How significant is their ranking in this landscape?
Dr. Jones: Notre dame’s ranking remains stable for now, but it is crucial for them to stay sharp. As the committee kept the rankings as they were for those teams that were idle,they’ll need to stay prepared as if they face a team that’s been active,the contrasting levels of momentum could play a significant role.
Editor: Emily, thank you for sharing your insights! The College Football Playoff is about to heat up, and it sounds like we can expect some thrilling match-ups.
Dr. Jones: Thank you for having me! I’m looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Buckle up, football fans!
Editor: You heard it here first, folks. Stay tuned as we follow the playoffs closely. Thanks for joining us!