CBS Sports projects 12-team College Football Playoff field after fourth CFP rankings reveal

The fourth College Football Playoff rankings saw a big shakeup as Washington jumped into the top four, replacing Florida State. If that remains the case at the end of the year, under the four-team model, the Seminoles would be on the outside looking in come CFP time.

In the 12-team College Football Playoff, though, FSU would be right in the mix, according to CBS Sports’ projection.

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm reflected the shakeup in the fourth CFP rankings of the year, moving Washington up to the No. 3 seed and dropping Florida State to No. 4. It also takes into account this week’s highly anticipated rivalry game between Ohio State and Michigan, and CBS Sports projects the Buckeyes to get the victory and win the Big Ten to lock up a bid.

No. 1 Georgia — Bye

Georgia is coming off one of its most dominant performances yet, handling Tennessee with ease en route to a 38-10 victory. Carson Beck was a big part of that, throwing for three touchdowns and 298 yards to lead the charge.

The Bulldogs remain atop the rankings, and would be the top seed in the expanded field as well, according to CBS Sports’ 12-team College Football Playoff projection. A big rivalry game awaits this week against Georgia Tech, but chatter is already starting about the SEC Championship next week against Alabama.

No. 2 Ohio State — Bye

The college football world will turn its eyes to Ann Arbor this week as Ohio State takes on Michigan. Armed with a stronger resume, the Buckeyes are ranked ahead of the Wolverines entering the matchup — and, as the favorite to win the Big Ten, sit at No. 2 in CBS Sports’ 12-team College Football Playoff projection.

Ohio State is coming off a resounding 37-3 victory over Minnesota to set the table for The Game. The Buckeyes got a complete performance, with 146 yards and two touchdowns from TreVeyon Henderson and two passing touchdowns from Kyle McCord as part of the blowout win.

No. 3 Washington — Bye

Last week’s win over Oregon State was yet another ranked victory for Washington to jump into the top part of the CFP rankings. The Huskies, led by the Michael Penix Jr.–Rome Odunze connection, are rolling heading into this week’s Apple Cup game.

UW now has five ranked victories this year as part of its 11-0 record and awaits its opponent in the Pac-12 Championship. Penix also looks like a Heisman Trophy contender heading into the rivalry matchup against Washington State, and he can further add to his case over the next two weeks.

No. 4 Florida State — Bye

Florida State looked like a lock for the four-team CFP as it heads toward the ACC Championship. But the Seminoles got dealt a big blow when Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury last week, and it’s now about how they’ll bounce back with Tate Rodemaker calling the shots.

FSU dropped to No. 5 in the latest rankings as a result of resume questions and would presumably be in position to jump up after the Ohio State-Michigan game. The Seminoles are on the bubble entering the final stretch, and it’ll be interesting to see how they respond with Rodemaker now the starting quarterback.

No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Michigan | Winner plays Florida State

Michigan is a 3.5-point favorite in The Game this week, but CBS Sports projects Ohio State to win the Big Ten in its 12-team College Football Playoff projection. That would leave the Wolverines as an at-large team in the expanded field — and a strong No. 5 seed, at that, considering how this year has gone.

Under the 12-team model, Tulane would get the G5 conference champion’s bid and draw a matchup against Michigan. The Green Wave are in a three-way tie atop the American Athletic Conference, and the conference champion could find itself as the highest-ranked G5 team.

No. 11 Penn State at No. 6 Oregon | Winner plays Washington

Led by Bo Nix amid his Heisman Trophy campaign, Oregon remains one of the most interesting teams in the nation entering the Civil War game against Oregon State. The Ducks present an interesting case for the CFP committee heading into Rivalry Week and can seal a Pac-12 Championship victory with a victory.

While likely outside the four-team field, Penn State would be able to steal a bid under the 12-team CFP model despite losses to Michigan and Ohio State. The Nittany Lions possess one of the nation’s top defenses, and most of the conversation will shift toward Drew Allar and the offense after the firing of Mike Yurcich.

No. 10 Louisville at No. 7 Texas | Winner plays Ohio State

With Quinn Ewers back under center — but without Jonathon Brooks at running back — Texas will try to present its case to the CFP committee to move out of the No. 7 ranking despite multiple close victories as of late. The Longhorns are in the thick of the Big 12 race heading into the matchup against Texas Tech this week, although there are plenty of tiebreaker scenarios in play.

Louisville, meanwhile, has been one of the top teams in the country after Jeff Brohm took over at his alma mater and sealed a spot in the ACC Championship. The Cardinals, led by Jack Plummer and a high-powered offense, came in as a top-10 team once again this week entering the rivalry game against Kentucky and would be able to snag a CFP bid in the 12-team format.

No. 9 Missouri at No. 8 Alabama | Winner plays Georgia

Alabama is riding a nine-game winning streak into this week’s Iron Bowl against Auburn, and Jalen Milroe is a big reason why. He found a new gear over the last few weeks, and that will propel the Crimson Tide into the SEC Championship against Georgia next week as they continue their quest to return to the CFP.

Alabama would likely be in the 12-team College Football Playoff field, and CBS Sports’ projection would create a matchup against Missouri. The Tigers had a scare last week against Florida, but Brady Cook engineered a masterful final drive to help get the victory and stay in the top 10 entering Rivalry Week against Arkansas.

Soon, the final edition of the four-team College Football Playoff will be upon us, and the 12-team format will be on the horizon amid many changes across the game. It’s safe to say all eyes will be on the final reveal show Dec. 3, though. Considering the top five teams are all undefeated, there’s so much left to be decided over the next few weeks.