College Football Playoff Bracket: Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech Lead
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee is staring down one of its toughest years as it gets ready to finalize the new 12-team playoff bracket. With wild results from conference championships and the weird cases of teams like Alabama, Indiana, and Miami, every decision is about to shake up the postseason.
This rundown takes a look at the possible playoff matchups, the drama around those last at-large spots, and what all of it means for bowl games across the country.
Contents
The Challenges Facing the CFP Selection Committee
Things got messy for the committee this year thanks to a string of unexpected upsets during conference championship weekend. Alabama, ranked ninth, got blown out by No. 3 Georgia, and that’s a big, ugly mark on their record.
Historically, no team with three losses—or even an at-large with multiple double-digit losses—has made the playoff. Alabama’s trying to do both, which is… bold, to say the least.
Alabama’s Controversial Position
Alabama’s spot is probably the most debated of the bunch. Even after getting thumped in the SEC title game, their previous ranking could keep them hanging around the playoff bubble.
The committee could swap them out for Miami in that last at-large spot, but doing so would mean the SEC Championship suddenly matters less than ever before. If Alabama gets left out, the committee’s logic and priorities are going to be under the microscope—again.
Indiana’s Unbeaten Season
Indiana is the only unbeaten team left after shocking defending champs Ohio State. That win rockets the Hoosiers to the top of the rankings and locks them in as the No. 1 seed.
Three wins over ranked teams and a perfect record? Indiana’s earned their shot, and the bracket’s set up nicely for them.
Ohio State’s Resilience
Ohio State might’ve lost to Indiana, but they’re still a powerhouse. The Buckeyes came within a hair of an undefeated run and still took home the Big Ten title.
With last year’s playoff experience, they’re a real threat—no one’s eager to face them.
Georgia’s Redemption
Georgia’s rout of Alabama in the SEC Championship was a statement. That win erases their only loss and locks them in as the No. 3 seed.
The Bulldogs’ defense was lights out—Alabama couldn’t get anything going on the ground and managed just one late score. Georgia’s peaking at the right time.
Texas Tech’s Historic Season
Texas Tech put together a 12-win season and grabbed the Big 12 title, which lands them the No. 4 seed. Their blowout win over BYU in the championship game showed off just how dangerous their offense can be.
Now, the committee has to decide if Texas Tech’s conference crown puts them ahead of Ohio State. That’s a tough call.
Other Key Playoff Contenders
The rest of the bracket features Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Alabama, Tulane, and James Madison. Each of these teams took a different path here, with clutch wins and some close calls shaping their spots.
Oregon’s Late-Season Surge
Oregon finished strong with a six-game winning streak, including a couple of big ones over ranked opponents. That run earned them a first-round home game as the No. 5 seed.
This is Coach Dan Lanning’s shot at his first playoff win after falling just short last year. The Ducks are hungry.
Ole Miss’ Strong Finish
Ole Miss, even after losing Lane Kiffin, went 11-1 to snag the No. 6 seed. Promoting Pete Golding to head coach and bringing Charlie Weis Jr. back as offensive coordinator gives them some stability heading into the postseason.
First-Round Matchups
The first round is packed with intriguing games. There’s a lot on the line, and a few of these could go either way. Here’s how it looks:
- (9) Notre Dame at (8) Oklahoma – Winner faces (1) Indiana
- (10) Alabama at (7) Texas A&M – Winner faces (2) Ohio State
- (11) Tulane at (6) Ole Miss – Winner faces (3) Georgia
- (12) James Madison at (5) Oregon – Winner faces (4) Texas Tech
Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma
Notre Dame and Oklahoma should be a defensive slugfest. Both teams are desperate for a shot at Indiana.
The Irish’s win over Boise State nudged them in over Miami for the playoff. It was close, but that’s how it goes.
Alabama vs. Texas A&M
Alabama’s got a lot to prove against Texas A&M. After the Georgia loss, they need to show they belong here.
Texas A&M had a solid year, and their win at Notre Dame is still fresh in everyone’s mind. This one feels like a toss-up.
Bowl Game Implications
Outside the playoff, the bowl picture is coming together. The Citrus Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl, Gator Bowl, and a handful of others are lining up some big matchups from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12.
Citrus Bowl
Looks like the Citrus Bowl will have Texas (9-3) from the SEC squaring off with Michigan (9-3) from the Big Ten. Both teams had strong seasons, and honestly, this might be the best game outside the playoff.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
For the Pop-Tarts Bowl, BYU could end up taking the Big 12 spot and face off against one of the ACC’s top finishers—maybe Miami, Duke, or Virginia. If Miami lands here, it’ll be their second straight trip to this bowl, which is kind of odd but not unheard of.
The CFP Selection Committee has some tough calls to make this year. Their choices could shake up both the playoff and bowl games in ways we haven’t quite seen before.
There have been some wild results and odd scenarios cropping up all season. Now, with the final rankings looming, fans and analysts are watching every move—maybe even overanalyzing, if we’re honest.
If you’re curious about the projected playoff bracket and bowl games, check out CBS Sports for the full breakdown.
