College Football Playoff Predictions: ESPN projects 12-team field after Week 9

ESPN projected the 12-team College Football Playoff field after Week 8 and there were some changes from last weekend in terms of playoff predictions.

But as always, these playoff projections will certainly change week to week. The Power Four conferences are certainly making it difficult to determine who’s going to go where!

The four highest-ranked conference champions will receive byes, and the first-round games will all take place at campus sites to begin the playoff. From there, the winners will advance to respective bowl games leading to the national championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20.

1. Oregon

The Ducks remained at the top of the playoff projections this week. Oregon is undefeated, just dominated a ranked Illinois team and has the inside track for the Big Ten.

There seems to be an inevitable rematch with Ohio State if the Buckeyes beat Penn State this coming weekend, although Indiana might have something to say about that. But as it stands, this is the top team in college football.

2. Georgia

Although Georgia fans think they have the best team in college football. Just like last week, the Bulldogs are in the No. 2 spot in the playoff projections.

Georgia’s lone loss is to Alabama which could ultimately keep them behind an unbeaten squad at the end of the year. But right now, they’re the projected SEC champion and will get a bye.

3. Miami

Miami is one of the few undefeated teams in the country after a dominating victory over Florida State. That was without Cam Ward even throwing a touchdown pass, but he caught one!

The playoff projections from ESPN kept the Hurricanes at No. 3 this week and it seems like the predicted ACC champ is bound for this spot. They would need others to lose once or twice.

4. BYU

BYU had a weird one against UCF over the weekend, but the Cougars came away with a 37-24 win to stay undefeated. Them and Iowa State have the inside track at the Big 12.

But as far as playoff projections go, the Cougars are the ones to get the bye week. The random conference could have a champion that’s still very new to the group. Amazing.

12. Tennessee (-3) at 5. Penn State (+2)

Now we get into the playoff changes based on this week’s projections! Tennessee drops three spots after a bye week while Penn State gets bumped up two spots.

The Nittany Lions are undefeated and could vault even higher with a win over Ohio State. Tennessee has a tough schedule, that includes Georgia, the rest of the way.

9. Indiana (+2) at 8. Texas A&M (NR)

The playoff matchup no one predicted this season. Go ahead, try and find this one! Indiana remained undefeated with a win over Washington and Curt Cignetti is definitely the front runner for coach of the year.

Texas A&M won its seventh straight game, beating LSU. By the way, the Aggies are unbeaten in SEC play and legitimately could get to the playoff just by making it to the SEC Championship.

11. Clemson (-1) at 6. Ohio State

Ohio State didn’t move from this spot from last week following a close win over Nebraska. The Buckeyes could move up in the playoff projections if they beat Penn State on the road this weekend but have to be careful, they already have a loss.

Clemson dropped a spot just by virtue of the other movement in these predictions. But right now, Clemson is hot and certainly playoff bound at this rate. Still five games to play though. 

10. Boise State (+2) at 7. Texas (-2)

How about this? Boise State, based on playoff projections, could very well finish higher in the rankings at the end of the year than some at-large teams. So yes, the G5 bid goes to the Broncos, but at this rate, they could move up and heck, if they get to the No. 8 spot, will host a playoff game!

Texas dropped two spots despite a win. It was a closer than anticipated win over Vanderbilt on the road and the Longhorns still have some work to do to work their way back up. This was the No. 1 team in the country at one point.

First Four Out

Notre Dame
Iowa State
Kansas State
Alabama

Next Four Out

Ole Miss
LSU
Pittsburgh
SMU

Group of Five Power Rankings

1. Boise State
2. Army
3. Tulane
4. UNLV
5. Memphis