College Football Playoff and Bowl Projections: Week 13 Analysis
As the college football season winds down, anticipation for the College Football Playoff (CFP) and bowl games is peaking. There’s only a week left in the regular season, and while the playoff picture is starting to make sense, the ACC and a few other conferences are still wild cards.
This article takes a look at the current CFP projections and upcoming bowl games. Let’s dig into who’s likely in, who’s out, and what fans might see in the next few weeks.
Contents
College Football Playoff Picture
The 2025 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be one for the books. Right now, several teams have just about locked up their spots in the 12-team field.
The top four will get first-round byes, while seeds 5 through 8 will host campus games for the first round. That’s a new twist that’s adding some extra buzz this year.
Top Contenders
Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Texas Tech are basically playoff locks at this point. Even if they stumble in the last week or their conference title games, their seasons have been that strong.
These teams have been consistently sharp, and it’s hard to imagine a playoff without them. They’ve set the pace all year.
Oregon, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma are still in good shape too, as long as they take care of business in their final games. Oregon’s recent win over USC really helped their case.
Ole Miss and Oklahoma have kept rolling with big wins over ranked teams, so they’re right in the thick of things as well.
First-Round Matchups
The first round kicks off December 19 and 20, and there’s no shortage of drama. Here’s what the matchups are looking like right now:
- No. 12 North Texas at No. 5 Texas Tech
- No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Ole Miss
- No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Oregon
- No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma
Analysis of First-Round Games
These games should have plenty of fireworks. Alabama vs. Oregon is one I can’t stop thinking about—both teams have history and have looked tough all season.
Notre Dame and Oklahoma? That’s another heavyweight clash. There’s a lot riding on these, and you can feel it.
Quarterfinals and Semifinals
The quarterfinals land on December 31 and January 1. Semifinals follow on January 8 and 9.
Here’s how the next rounds could shake out:
Quarterfinals
- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 2 Indiana
- Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 4 Georgia
- Rose Bowl Game: No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Ohio State
- Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Texas A&M
Semifinals
- Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 1 Ohio State
- Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Indiana
Every team left will be fighting for a shot at the title. Ohio State, especially, has looked almost untouchable with their defense this year.
National Championship Game
Mark your calendar for January 19 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The current projection?
- No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 1 Ohio State
This could be a classic. Ohio State’s defense up against Indiana’s high-powered offense? That’s what fans live for. It’s hard to pick a favorite, honestly.
Bowl Season Overview
Beyond the playoff, there’s a full slate of 35 bowl games. It all starts with the Cricket Celebration Bowl on December 13.
Here are a few games that stand out:
- Cricket Celebration Bowl: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State
- LA Bowl: Arizona State vs. San Diego State
- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Toledo vs. UNLV
- New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion
- TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. LSU
Key Bowl Games to Watch
The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl could be a real treat—Virginia and LSU have both had solid seasons. The LA Bowl with Arizona State and San Diego State should be fun too, especially if you like seeing teams air it out.
Conclusion
We’re just about to hit the last week of the regular season, and honestly, the buzz around the College Football Playoff and bowl games is hard to ignore.
There are still a bunch of teams in the mix, and some big matchups coming up that could shake things up.
If you’re into the nitty-gritty updates or want to see all the projections, you might want to check out the full article on ESPN’s College Football Playoff and Bowl Projections.
