The race for the College Football Playoff just changed directions.
What do you think about the College Football Playoff now? First, look at all of our Predicting the Rest of the Season picks for the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, IND, AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWest, and Sun Belt to see how we think each team’s season will end. That will help make it more clear because…
CFP Projections: Week 12
The ACC looks like a one-bid conference all of a sudden. Clemson gets in if SMU loses a game or if the Canes lose another one, like at Syracuse, because of their loss to Georgia Tech.
We also think the Tigers will lose to South Carolina, but they will still win the ACC Championship. That would make them the worst-seeded team in the CFP.
The Big 12 might have a hard time getting a second team in if BYU wins the conference title and rolls through. So, we expect two losses, starting with the Big 12 title game.
More and more, it looks like Indiana, Penn State, and Notre Dame will all finish the regular season 11-1. This is because Indiana beat Michigan.
Plus, the team that loses the Big Ten Championship game between Ohio State and Oregon is still ranked highly. This means that the Big Ten and the Irish will control the higher seeds, while the SEC will control the lower seeds, making for a great first round of games.
Re-seeding is not done. The winner from 8 to 9 plays the 1, the winner from 7 to 10 plays the 2, the winner from 6 to 11 plays the 3, and the winner from 5 to 12 plays the 4.
1 vs 8-9 plays the 4 vs 5-12, and 2 vs 7-10 plays 3 vs 6-11.
College Football Playoff First Round
Friday, December 20
8:00, ABC/ESPN
Home site of higher seed
Bowl Projection: 9 Texas A&M at 8 Indiana
Last Week: 9 Texas A&M vs 8 Kansas State
Saturday, December 21
12:00, TNT
Home site of higher seed
Bowl Projection: 10 Ole Miss at 7 Notre Dame
Last Week: 10 Texas vs 7 Penn State
Saturday, December 21
4:00, TNT
Home site of higher seed
Bowl Projection: 11 Georgia at 6 Penn State
Last Week: 11 Indiana vs 6 Notre Dame
Saturday, December 21
8:00, ABC/ESPN
Home site of higher seed
Bowl Projection: 12 Clemson at 5 Oregon
Last Week: 12 Tennessee vs 5 Oregon
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Tuesday, December 31
7:30, ESPN
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Last Season: Oregon 45, Liberty 6
Bowl Projection: 4 Boise State vs 5 Oregon
4 Last Week: 4 Boise State vs 5 Oregon
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
1:00, ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Last Season: Ole Miss 38, Penn State 25
Bowl Projection: 3 Kansas State vs 11 Georgia
Last Week: 3 Miami vs 6 Notre Dame
Rose Bowl
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
5:00, ESPN
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Last Season: Michigan 27, Alabama 20 OT
Bowl Projection: 1 Ohio State vs 9 Texas A&M
Last Week: 1 Ohio State vs 9 Texas A&M
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
8:45, ESPN
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Last Season: Washington 37, Texas 31
Bowl Projection: 2 Alabama vs 7 Notre Dame
Last Week: 2 Georgia vs 7 Texas
College Football Playoff Semifinal Capital One Orange Bowl
Thursday, January 9, 2025
7:30, ESPN
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Last Season: Georgia 63, Florida State 3
Bowl Projection: 2 Alabama vs 11 Georgia
Last Week: 2 Georgia vs 6 Notre Dame
College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl
Friday, January 10, 2025
7:30, ESPN
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Last Season: Missouri 14, Ohio State 3
Bowl Projection: 1 Ohio State vs 5 Oregon
Last Week: 1 Ohio State vs 5 Oregon
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, January 20, 2025
7:30, ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Last Season: Michigan 34, Washington 13
Bowl Projection: 1 Ohio State vs 2 Alabama
Last Week: 1 Ohio State vs 2 Georgia
