College Football Playoff: CBS Sports projects 12-team field, full bowl slate after Week 6

Week 6 of the college football season has come to pass, proving to be another exciting week of action from around the country. Along the way, the outcome of several matchups have re-shaped the current outlook on the College Football Playoff.

Alabama defeated Vanderbilt 30-14 — winning its second straight game over a ranked opponent while getting revenge for last season’s upset. Miami bested in-state rival Florida State, boosting their status as well. Meanwhile, teams like Penn State and Texas are suffering the consequences after losing to unranked teams on the road.

In turn, CBS Sports has overhauled their predictions for the College Football Playoff. Here are the updated projections from CBS Sports, along with a prediction list of every bowl game:

College Football Playoff First Round Game #1

No. 12 USF at No. 5 Texas Tech

If Texas Tech’s offseason investments get them a home playoff game in year one, it says a lot about how to win now in the modern age of college football. Currently boasting the highest-scoring offense in the Big 12, the Red Raiders and 5-0 and in turn, cracked the top 10 in the latest AP Poll after Week 6.

USF generated a ton of buzz during the first two weeks of the college football season, beating back-to-back ranked teams in Boise State and Florida. Things didn’t work out for them vs. Miami, but they’ve outscored their opponents 117-40 in the two game since. They have a matchup vs. Memphis on Oct. 25 that could be a ranked matchup, which helps their case even more in the CFP race.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #2

No. 11 Georgia Tech at No. 6 Alabama

Georgia Tech’s 5-0 start to the season has been one of the most interesting surprises of the season so far. The Yellow Jackets keep finding ways to win — see the their 30-29 overtime win over Wake Forest in Week 5 — and don’t play another ranked team until Georgia after Thanksgiving.

For Alabama, the Crimson Tide appear to have completely redeemed themselves after their season-opening loss to Florida State. With victories over ranked Georgia and Vanderbilt teams, four of Alabama’s next five games will be against ranked opponents. This gives them more than a few opportunities to move up on this list in the coming weeks.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #3

No. 10 Tennessee at No. 7 Indiana

Many people had their doubts about both Tennessee and Indiana heading into the season. Both teams lost offensive production after facing roster turnover in the offseason.

Now, the Hoosiers are a top-10 team and the Volunteers aren’t too far behind. Indiana could earn a statement victory against Oregon this weekend to help their case to the CFP committee. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s only loss so far is to Georgia, and they have several opportunities against ranked opponents (Alabama, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt) to improve their status as well.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #4

No. 9 Texas A&M at No. 8 Georgia

Georgia and Texas A&M do not play in the regular season. However, it’s possible they could find themselves matched up in the SEC Championship game.

That remains to be seen, but the Aggies are currently 5-0, while Georgia bounced back from their loss against Alabama with a blowout win vs. Kentucky on Saturday. Both teams figure to be major players in the College Football Playoff picture as the second half of the season begins.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl

Ohio State vs. TBD

Ohio State looks the part, which is why CBS Sports is predicting a first-round bye for the defending champion Buckeyes. They recently improved to 5-0 after defeating Minnesota 42-3 during Week 6.

Ohio State will play Illinois this weekend in a ranked matchup, but don’t have another ranked opponent on their schedule until the regular season finale at Michigan. That matchup, once again, could play a major role in the Buckeyes’ postseason plans.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl

Miami vs. TBD

Miami held on to defeat in-state rival Florida State despite allowing 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. The victory improved the Hurricanes to 5-0 on the season with three of those wins coming against ranked opponents.

Mario Cristobal’s squad appears to be the team to beat in the ACC this season. They avoid both Georgia Tech and Virginia during the regular season — the only other two ranked teams in the conference aside from the Seminoles. That suggests the toughest part of Miami’s schedule is behind them.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl

Ole Miss vs. TBD

This could be the season that Ole Miss takes that next step under Lane Kiffin as a playoff contender. Based on this projection as the only SEC team with a first round bye — CBS Sports likely expects the Rebels to win the SEC this season.

Ole Miss still has matchups against the likes of Oklahoma and Georgia before October is over, so there is much football to be played. Still, the Rebels are off to a 3-0 start to SEC play and have a ton of momentum coming off their bye week.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl

Oregon vs. TBD

Oregon dominated its early competition this season, and opened Big Ten play in front of a packed white-out in Happy Valley against Penn State. They came out victorious in overtime, and are 5-0 on the early season. The Ducks will take on another top-10 team in Indiana during Week 7.

This projection expects more of the same success for the Ducks. A first-round bye means they wouldn’t taste defeat more than once before the postseason.

CBS Bowl Projections after Week 6

Date TBA

Bahamas Bowl (TBD)
TBD
TBD
Miami (OH) vs. Louisiana Tech

Saturday, Dec. 13

LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN
San Diego State vs. Washington

Tuesday, Dec. 16

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Connecticut vs. Jacksonville State

Wednesday, Dec. 17

StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5 p.m., ESPN
James Madison vs. Toledo

68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
8:30 p.m., ESPN
East Carolina vs. Georgia Southern

Friday, Dec. 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
Noon, ESPN
Troy vs. New Mexico State

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Memphis vs. Louisville

Monday, Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
2 p.m., ESPN
Buffalo vs. Utah State

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Boca Raton Bowl
Flagler Credit Union Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
2 p.m., ESPN
North Texas vs. Old Dominion

New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Frisco, Texas
9 p.m., ESPN
Rice vs. Arkansas State

Wednesday, Dec. 24

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN
Hawaii vs. Temple

Friday, Dec. 26

GameAbove Sports Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
1 p.m., ESPN
Minnesota vs. Ohio

Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Baylor vs. Iowa

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
8 p.m., ESPN
UCF vs. Fresno State

Saturday, Dec. 27

Go Bowling Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
11 a.m., ESPN
NC State vs. Navy

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
Noon, ABC
Duke vs. Maryland

Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
2:15 p.m., ESPN
Pittsburgh vs. Tulane

Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC
Notre Dame vs. TCU

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m., CW Network
Boise State vs. Michigan State

Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN
UNLV vs. Texas State

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m. ABC
Clemson vs. Oklahoma

Kinder’s Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9:15 p.m., ESPN
BYU vs. Missouri

Monday, Dec. 29

Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
2 p.m., ESPN
Appalachian State vs. Bowling Green

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
2 p.m., ESPN
Kansas vs. California

Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Illinois vs. Vanderbilt

Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9 p.m., ESPN
USC vs. Iowa State

Wednesday, Dec. 31

ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Michigan vs. LSU

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
SMU vs. Arizona

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3 p.m., ABC
Texas vs. Penn State

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Nebraska vs. Arizona State

Friday, Jan. 2

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
1 p.m., ESPN
Army vs. Cincinnati

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Houston vs. Auburn

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
8 p.m., ESPN
Virginia vs. Mississippi State

Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
Florida State vs. Utah