After 14 weeks of video games, Championship Week is right here. That means the ultimate College Football Playoff rankings might be revealed on Sunday – and the ultimate bracket might be set.
As groups vie for convention championships, spots within the 12-team CFP are on the road. The first bids have been secured Friday evening when Boise State defeated UNLV within the Mountain West Championship. The Broncos, because the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion, will now obtain a spot within the discipline.
The remainder of the College Football Playoff image will come into focus Saturday. The ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC championship video games will happen all through the day. Those winners will all seem within the discipline below the 12-team format, which requires the 5 highest-ranked convention champions to make the minimize.
In the brand new bracket, first-round video games might be at campus websites, and the 4 highest-seeded groups will obtain byes. The quarterfinals and semifinals might be at bowl websites, and this yr’s nationwide championship might be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
The closing College Football Playoff rankings reveal is developing on Dec. 8. Here are the up to date projections after the Mountain West Championship.
First-round byes
No. 1 seed – Oregon (Projected Big Ten champion)
Saturday, Oregon will play in its first-ever Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. It’s been a powerful first season within the convention for the Ducks, who will tackle Penn State within the title recreation.
Oregon ended the common season with yet one more resounding win, defeating Washington to finish the common season because the final undefeated crew in FBS. The Ducks now get able to make their option to Indianapolis on Saturday to tackle Penn State, hoping to formally safe the No. 1 seed within the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket.
No. 2 seed – Texas (Projected SEC champion)
A victory over Texas A&M within the Lone Star Showdown despatched Texas to its first-ever SEC Championship. The Longhorns are making their closing preparations for a high-stakes rematch towards Georgia on Saturday with a first-round bye within the College Football Playoff on the road.
Last week, Texas obtained an enormous efficiency from its protection within the victory over Texas A&M – the primary time the 2 groups performed since 2011. The Aggies’ solely factors got here on a Quinn Ewers turnover because the Longhorns held on for the victory and a visit to Atlanta.
No. 3 seed – SMU (Projected ACC champion)
For the primary time this yr, SMU is the highest-ranked ACC crew – and, subsequently, the projected convention champion. The Mustangs are within the league championship on Saturday of their first season after leaving the American Athletic Conference, and can look to be one of many 4 highest-ranked convention champions.
SMU closed out the common season with a powerful 38-6 win over Cal to complete ACC play undefeated. Now, the Mustangs will get able to face Clemson in Charlotte seeking to formally clinch a College Football Playoff bid.
No. 4 seed – Boise State (Mountain West champion)
Led by Ashton Jeanty, Boise State turned the primary crew to safe a berth within the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket Friday evening. The Broncos jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead earlier than coming away with the 21-7 victory over UNLV within the Mountain West Championship to change into one of many 5 highest-ranked convention champions.
Boise State enters Saturday in sturdy place for a first-round bye. Both groups within the Big 12 Championship – Arizona State and Iowa State – ranked behind the Broncos within the penultimate Top 25, paving the way in which for BSU to change into a top-four seed.
First-round matchups (campus websites)
No. 12 seed Arizona State (Projected Big 12 champion) at No. 5 seed Penn State
The fifth highest-ranked projected convention champion, Arizona State is heading to its first Big 12 Championship after the league image lastly got here into focus final week. The Sun Devils blew out in-state rival Arizona final day trip and can tackle Iowa State within the title recreation, hoping to punch their ticket to the 12-team bracket.
For the primary time since 2016, Penn State is within the Big Ten Championship. The Nittany Lions clinched their look with Ohio State’s loss to Michigan and their victory over Maryland, establishing the matchup towards Oregon on Saturday in Indianapolis.
No. 9 seed Tennessee at No. 8 seed Ohio State
A Rivalry Week victory over Vanderbilt helped Tennessee attain the 10-win threshold and hold the Vols proper within the thick of the College Football Playoff race. Although they’re not heading to Atlanta for the SEC title recreation, they’re taking a look at a possible first-round recreation based mostly on the penultimate rankings reveal.
Last week’s loss to Michigan was fairly a shock for Ohio State, which missed out on the Big Ten Championship consequently. The Buckeyes are nonetheless afloat within the College Football Playoff race, however was nonetheless in rivalry to host a recreation coming into Saturday.
No. 10 seed Indiana at No. 7 seed Georgia
Questions swirled about Indiana’s energy of schedule after the loss to Ohio State, however a 66-0 win over Purdue confirmed how dominant the Hoosiers will be. While they’re not going to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big Ten Championship, they’re hanging across the College Football Playoff dialog after the penultimate rankings reveal.
It took eight overtimes, however Georgia obtained an vital victory over Georgia Tech to chart a neater path towards the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs can formally lock up a spot by successful Saturday’s SEC Championship, however a loss won’t spell the tip of their hopes after a 10-2 common season.
No. 11 seed Alabama at No. 6 seed Notre Dame
Squarely on the College Football Playoff bubble, Alabama might be watching Championship Weekend carefully after successful the Iron Bowl every week in the past. The Crimson Tide as soon as once more lead the pack of three-loss SEC groups on this week’s rankings, and so they’ll have to see how this week goes to see in the event that they make the sector.
A ten-game successful streak has Notre Dame in sturdy place to host a first-round College Football Playoff recreation. The Fighting Irish obtained a rivalry victory over USC final day trip to finish the 11-1 season and can now await Sunday’s closing rankings to see if the primary spherical will formally come to South Bend.
First 4 out
Miami
Ole Miss
South Carolina
Iowa State
