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

The final installment of the four-team College Football Playoff is just about here. With two weeks left in the regular season, the road to the national championship is entering its final stretch — and, soon, the 12-team CFP will be upon us.

CBS Sports projected what the field would look like if the new format came in a year earlier. As things stand, the 12-team College Football Playoff will follow a 6-plus-6 format, which puts the six highest-ranked conference champions in the field along with six more teams that receive at-large bids. However, changes could be coming considering the uncertain future of the Pac-12.

Nonetheless, CBS Sports’ projection follows the current plan to expand the CFP, using the latest rankings as a baseline.

No. 1 Ohio State — Bye

Ohio State dropped to No. 2 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings, but CBS Sports projected the Buckeyes to get the top spot in its 12-team projections. The reason for that is the Buckeyes will have an opportunity to beat No. 3 Michigan next week, and that could put them over the top.

Ohio State got another blowout victory last week over Michigan State, defeating the Spartans 38-3. Marvin Harrison Jr. continues to emerge as the top playmaker in the country as he looks to make a run at the Heisman Trophy, totaling 149 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.

No. 2 Georgia — Bye

Georgia got its second consecutive top-15 victory last week as the Bulldogs flew past Ole Miss 52-17 at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs got a complete performance as they shut down the Rebels’ offense to continue their winning streak and their quest for a three-peat.

Brock Bowers returned to the field in the game and made the most of it, scoring a touchdown in his first game after undergoing tightrope ankle surgery. Georgia is starting to get healthy, and although they fell to No. 2 in CBS Sports’ projection, could be in line to make another run at a title.

No. 3 Florida State — Bye

Florida State’s resume was subject to some scrutiny during Tuesday night’s reveal show, but the Seminoles still look ready for the postseason. With a spot in the ACC Championship secured entering two final non-conference games, FSU is squarely in the national title picture even after an up-and-down performance against Miami.

In that 27-20 victory, Jordan Travis threw for 265 yards and a touchdown as Trey Benson ran for two touchdowns to get the win. Florida State has North Alabama awaiting this week before next week’s rivalry matchup against Florida to set the table for the ACC title game.

No. 4 Washington — Bye

The Pac-12 remains one of the most crowded conferences in the nation, but Washington managed to stay atop the standings with a close victory over Utah last week. The Huskies have won five of their last six games by single figures, including last week’s 35-28 decision over the Utes highlighted by a late safety.

Michael Penix Jr. remains one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy after another strong performance with 332 yards and two touchdowns against Utah. The schedule won’t get easier, though, as Washington heads to Oregon State this week, still in search of a Pac-12 Championship bid.

No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Michigan | Winner plays Washington

While it’s still not entirely clear who Michigan’s on-field head coach will be on Saturday against Maryland, the Wolverines made quite the statement with last week’s win over Penn State. With Sherrone Moore calling the shots in Jim Harbaugh’s place, UM ran all over the Nittany Lions en route to the 24-15 victory to stay undefeated as part of a crucial stretch.

Michigan’s opponent in CBS Sports’ 12-team College Football Playoff projection would be Tulane, which came in as the top Group of 5 team in the latest rankings. The Green Wave are in a three-way tie for first place in the American Athletic Conference after last week’s win over Tulsa, setting up a big game against FAU as UTSA awaits to end the regular season.

No. 11 Oregon State at No. 6 Oregon | Winner plays Florida State

Formerly known as the “Civil War,” Oregon and Oregon State would make for one of the more intriguing matchups considering the national championship stakes. While the future of the rivalry is unclear as the Ducks prepare to move to the Big Ten, playing the game on the biggest stage in the game would draw plenty of eyeballs.

Oregon is in the thick of the Pac-12 race on the heels of a big 36-27 victory over USC last week as Bo Nix looks ready for a trip to the Heisman ceremony. But Oregon State continues to linger, coming in at No. 11 in the latest rankings to add to the magnitude of next week’s matchup between the Beavers and Ducks.

No. 10 Louisville at No. 7 Texas | Winner plays Georgia

It hasn’t been easy going for Texas since the Red River Rivalry loss to Oklahoma, but the Longhorns remain a top-10 team despite some close calls. The latest came last week against TCU, which scored 20 points in the fourth quarter before Texas held on for the 29-26 victory in Quinn Ewers’ return.

According to CBS Sports’ projection, Texas would go up against a red-hot Louisville team that’s now ranked in the top 10. The Cardinals, sitting in second place in the ACC, have put on a show under first-year coach Jeff Brohm and will look to lock up a spot in the conference championship over the next two weeks.

No. 9 Missouri at No. 8 Alabama | Winner plays Ohio State

Alabama has been red-hot as of late, winning eight consecutive games — including two in grand fashion. The latest Crimson Tide victory came in a 49-21 blowout of Kentucky last week behind six total touchdowns from Jalen Milroe to lock up a spot in the SEC Championship and keep Nick Saban’s crew in the conversation for the four-team CFP.

CBS Sports’ projection would pit the Crimson Tide against an intriguing Missouri team that finds itself 8-2 after last week’s win over Tennessee. The Tigers are on a steady rise this year under Eli Drinkwitz, and they’d be a team to watch under the 12-team format with their high-powered offense led by quarterback Brady Cook and running back Cody Schrader.

As the season begins to wind down, it still feels like the 12-team College Football Playoff would be really interesting if it was arriving a year earlier. However, it’s still a year away — and the conversation about who will make the four-team field is well underway.