Several near upsets in the Big Ten nearly shook up College Football Playoff projections, but unbeaten Indiana and one-loss Oregon managed to secure victories against Penn State and Iowa, respectively, keeping their championship hopes alive alongside top-ranked Ohio State.
Texas Tech’s dominant 29-7 victory over BYU has placed the Red Raiders at the forefront of the Big 12, setting up an intense winner-take-all showdown with Cincinnati next week. However, they’ll need to win out to maintain their position, as the Big 12 has proven to be unpredictable this season.
The first College Football Playoff rankings hinted at the possible structure of this year’s expanded 12-team bracket, which is expected to evolve as the season progresses. Notably, last year’s Big 12 champion, Arizona State, was not included in the initial rankings but went on to secure a playoff berth after a strong finish.
Looking ahead, the projected playoff field includes five teams from the SEC, three from the Big Ten, Notre Dame, the ACC champion, the Big 12 champion, and the highest-ranked team from the Group of Five. After Week 11, the playoff picture is becoming clearer.
In the projected quarterfinal matchups, Ohio State is expected to face Oregon while Texas A&M is set to meet Texas, alongside potential matchups involving Indiana, Alabama, Georgia, and others.
Key highlights from the projected playoff contenders include:
1. Ohio State continues to dominate with two standout Heisman candidates, Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith.
2. Texas A&M is off to its best start since 1992, looking to maintain momentum heading into a critical last few games.
3. Indiana’s quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, is making headlines with impressive performances, furthering his Heisman campaign while leading the Hoosiers towards a Big Ten title shot.
4. Alabama is poised to regain its championship form, while Georgia showcased its talent with a decisive victory in recent games.
5. Texas Tech is threatening to claim the Big 12 crown if they can execute effectively inside the red zone.
6. Oregon is keeping playoff aspirations alive after a critical win against Iowa, but upcoming matchups against USC and Washington will prove pivotal.
7. Notre Dame is making a strong case for playoff contention with a current seven-game winning streak.
8. Texas prepares for a crucial matchup against Georgia that could dictate their playoff fate.
9. Georgia Tech leads the ACC projections despite a competitive conference landscape, while North Texas remains a front-runner in the Group of Five discussion.
With the season entering its final stages, exciting matchups loom on the horizon, promising a thrilling conclusion to the regular season and the potential for unexpected playoff outcomes. As teams strive for glory, the competitive landscape of college football continues to evolve, capturing the interest of fans nationwide.