College Football Playoff: CBS Sports predicts 2024 12-team bracket, full bowl slate after Week 1

by:Nick Kosko•09/04/24•

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The latest College Football Playoff and bowl projections are here from CBS Sports. That includes the full 12-team bracket and projections for every single bowl game.

It was a wild Week 1 so there’s still a long way to go before we have a concrete look at the postseason. All eyes are on the CFP, but there are plenty of bowls to watch.

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Let’s dive into CBS Sports’ current predictions for the 12-team playoff and rest of the bowl projections.

1. Georgia

Kirby Smart Georgia — (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

The top dog, no pun intended. The Bulldogs dominated Clemson to open up the season and looked like the team that won two straight national titles in 2021 and ‘22.

Carson Beck will be in the Heisman Trophy conversation and Kirby Smart looks like the best coach in America. Good luck stopping them.

2. Ohio State

(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Buckeyes dominated Akron to open the season and it seems like the new Ohio State squad means business. Will Howard at QB, Quinshon Judkins at RB and true freshman Jeremiah Smith at WR.

Don’t forget about that loaded defense that includes transfer Caleb Downs in the secondary. This team is national title or bust.

3. Utah

Utah-Cam Rising — Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Utah is going under the radar again, but the Utes are projected to get a top four seed in their first year in the Big 12. Sounds about right.

Veteran Cam Rising is back at QB and if he’s healthy, this could be a dangerous team. Kyle Whittingham’s crew might be the steadiest in all of college football.

4. Miami

Miami HC Mario Cristobal — © Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

The Hurricanes made a statement with a 41-17 win over Florida in the Swamp. Cam Ward looks like a Heisman candidate and showed why he was the most sought after QB in the portal.

With the way the ACC shook out in Week 1, this is Miami’s conference, at least through a game. Right now, that projects to a top four seed in the College Football Playoff. Forget bowl projections, they’re going near the top!

No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Boise State

oregon-head-coach-dan-lanning-calls-boise-state-ashton-jeanty-best-running-back-seen — Brian Losness-Imagn Images

The Group of Five representative gets the bottom seed in this case. It won’t be easy for Boise State to go to Austin to take on the Longhorns.

Ashton Jeanty is a beast but he can’t do it alone. Texas is a national title contender this season and having a home playoff game just makes it that much more difficult.

No. 8 Penn State vs. No. 9 Notre Dame

notre dame marcus freeman — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman. (Photo by Chad Weaver)

Both teams looked very impressive over the weekend, winning on the road. Penn State’s offense came alive while Notre Dame played total team football. Put them in the bowl projections!

Putting this game at Penn State and making it a white-out would make it quite the environment. Does that automatically mean Notre Dame has no shot? No, but it’s tough to beat the Nittany Lions in that type of atmosphere.

No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 11 Iowa

(Photo credit: Dennis Scheidt – @wbcentrick on Twitter)

The Ducks didn’t look great in Week 1, but nonetheless, this is still a great team on paper. So forget about the first game since they’re still in the bowl projections!

Iowa meanwhile. Well, the Hawkeyes have an offense! And if they’re one of the at-large teams, people are going to go nuts. We need it for the aura they’ll bring to the bracket.

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No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 10 Kansas State

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe and coach Kalen DeBoer — Jalen Milroe and Kalen DeBoer (William McLelland / USA TODAY Sports)

The Crimson Tide didn’t miss a beat when it came to going from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer. There will surely be some growing pains right? Maybe not. Alright, back to the bowl projections.

The Wildcats will be the wild card out of the Big 12 and it seems like the projections bank on a big season from QB Avery Johnson. That’s not outlandish.

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