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CBS Sports projects 12-team College Football Playoff field ahead of Week 8

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz10/18/23

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College Football Playoff
© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Through seven weeks of the season, there’s still plenty of parity across college football. It makes the idea of a 12-team College Football Playoff that much more interesting even though it’s a year away.

Still, CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm projected what the expanded field would look like if it took effect this season. It would certainly be interesting.

There has been some movement in CBS Sports’ 12-team College Football Playoff projection after a big week of games, and there’s certainly going to be more as contenders square off over the next few weeks. The 12-team format currently includes the six highest-ranked conference champions and the next six highest-ranked teams, and with multiple close conference races, there are multiple teams worthy of consideration under the new model.

No. 1 Georgia | Bye

Kirby Smart
© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Georgia once again sits atop CBS Sports’ 12-team College Football Playoff rankings after a seventh consecutive victory to start the season. The Bulldogs sit atop the AP Top 25 once again this week as they head into the bye, which could be coming at a good time.

Brock Bowers is expected to be out a few weeks after undergoing tightrope surgery after suffering a high ankle sprain against Vanderbilt. That means Georgia will have to go forward without its best offensive playmaker against Florida next week, and makes things really interesting for the Bulldogs’ chances to stay unbeaten.

No. 2 Michigan | Bye

Michigan Wolverines football J.J. McCarthy
(Photo by Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports)

Michigan remains one of the most dominant teams in the nation to start the year, winning every game by at least 24 points. The Wolverines cruised once again last week en route to a 52-7 victory over Indiana to improve to 7-0.

J.J. McCarthy continues to showcase his playmaking ability, moving up the Heisman Trophy odds board. Michigan has one more game this week against Michigan State before entering the bye week, which sets up a tough final stretch in November.

No. 3 Florida State | Bye

Keon Coleman-Florida State
Keon Coleman (Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports)

It’s been an impressive start for Florida State, and the Seminoles show no signs of slowing down. They’re now 6-0 after handling Syracuse last week behind a huge day — and a highlight-reel catch — from Keon Coleman.

FSU is on the bubble for the four-team College Football Playoff, but they’d be a virtual lock at this point under the 12-team model. A big game awaits this week, though, when Duke comes to Tallahassee.

No. 4 Texas | Bye

Texas HC Steve Sarkisian
Kevin Jairaj | USA TODAY Sports

Now coming out of the bye week, Texas remains the favorite to win the Big 12. The Longhorns fell to Oklahoma in Week 6, but come in the top four of CBS Sports’ 12-team College Football Playoff projection with their odds of winning the league.

Texas is getting it done on both sides of the ball this year, leading the Big 12 in total defense while ranking fourth in scoring offense. The home stretch gets underway this week as the Longhorns take on Big 12 newcomer Houston.

No. 12 Air Force at No. 5 Oregon | Winner plays Texas

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning
© Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

CBS Sports keeps switching up its sixth conference champion spot, which goes to Air Force this week. The Falcons lead the Mountain West with a 4-0 record and, as a result, would be the sixth highest-ranked conference champion under the 12-team model.

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If things worked out that way, Air Force would draw Oregon — which is the favorite to win the Pac-12 even despite last week’s loss to Washington. The Ducks still possess a high-powered offense, which could make them a threat through the rest of conference play.

No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Ohio State | Winner plays Florida State

Marvin Harrison Jr
© Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Alabama and Ohio State last faced off in the 2021 College Football Playoff national championship, and CBS Sports’ 12-team projection would have them squaring off for a spot in the semifinals. That would be one of the most intriguing matchups under the new model.

The Crimson Tide have bounced back after a 1-1 start to the season and have themselves in position for an SEC Championship appearance with a perfect conference record. As for the Buckeyes, we’ll learn a lot about them this week when they take on a tough Penn State team at home.

No. 10 North Carolina at No. 7 Washington | Winner plays Michigan

Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
© Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

North Carolina is now in the picture as part of a red-hot start to the season. Now with Tez Walker back, the Tar Heels are firing on all cylinders entering this week’s game against Virginia and find themselves in the thick of the battle for the ACC title.

Under the 12-team College Football Playoff model, UNC would face Michael Penix Jr. and Washington, who are coming off a huge win over Oregon last week at Huskie Stadium. The rest of the schedule won’t be easy in the jam-packed Pac-12, but the Huskies have proven they can handle tough games, and that would serve them well in the CFP.

No. 9 Penn State at No. 8 Oklahoma | Winner plays Georgia

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables wants to make sure Texas doesn't get another game on the
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State has a huge matchup looming this week against Ohio State, which has a marquee victory over Notre Dame under its belt. The Nittany Lions will rely on their experience on defense and up front on the offensive line as Drew Allar plays in his biggest game yet.

Even if they were to lose that game, the Nittany Lions would likely be in the 12-team College Football Playoff picture and would face Oklahoma in the first round, according to CBS Sports’ projection. The Sooners are fresh off a bye week and have a path to the Big 12 title game, starting with this week’s game against UCF.

It’s safe to say fans would be in for a treat if the 12-team College Football Playoff was starting this year instead of next. The dominos aren’t done falling, though, as multiple highly anticipated showdowns await over the final few weeks of the regular season.