College Football Playoff: CBS Sports predicts 2024 12-team bracket, full bowl slate after Week 1
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.
Let’s dive into CBS Sports’ current predictions for the 12-team playoff and rest of the bowl projections.
1. Georgia
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
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 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
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
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
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
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.
No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 10 Kansas State
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.
Other Bowl Projections
Jan. 4
Bahamas Bowl: FIU vs. Bowling Green
Jan 3.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Clemson vs. Illinois
First Responder Bowl: Army vs. Florida State
Jan. 2
Gator Bowl: NC State vs. Missouri
Dec. 31
Texas Bowl: Iowa State vs. Tennessee
Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Ole Miss
Sun Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Washington State
ReliaQuest Bowl: Nebraska vs. Texas A&M
Dec. 30
Music City Bowl: Rutgers vs. LSU
Dec. 28
Independence Bowl: West Virginia vs. Oregon State
Alamo Bowl: Kansas vs. USC
Military Bowl: Louisville vs. Memphis
Arizona Bowl: Air Force vs. Toledo
Pop-Tarts Bowl: SMU vs. Oklahoma State
New Mexico Bowl: UNLV vs. Texas State
Pinstripe Bowl: North Carolina vs. Maryland
Fenway Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina
Dec. 27
Holiday Bowl: Boston College vs. Washington
Liberty Bowl: TCU vs. Oklahoma
Birmingham Bowl: South Florida vs. Auburn
Armed Forces Bowl: UTSA vs. UCF
Dec. 26
68 Ventures Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Marshall
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Indiana
Detroit Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Ohio
Dec. 24
Hawaii Bowl: Wyoming vs. Jacksonville State
Dec. 23
Idaho Potato Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Colorado State
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Liberty vs. James Madison
Dec. 20
Gasparilla Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Mississippi State
Cure Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. Coastal Carolina
Dec. 19
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana
Dec. 18
Los Angeles Bowl: Fresno State vs. California
Boca Raton Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Tulane
Dec. 17
Frisco Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Western Michigan
Dec. 14
Camellia Bowl: UConn vs. Eastern Michigan