Tracking the Last Perfect Brackets in College Football Playoff
In an electrifying run of College Football Playoff (CFP) matchups, the NCAA.com College Football Bracket Challenge Game has seen the number of perfect brackets drop fast. As the competition gets wild, a lot of fans have watched their dreams of a flawless bracket just vanish.
This post digs into the biggest games that have shaped the playoff season and keeps tabs on the shrinking pool of perfect brackets. If you want the latest on which brackets are still alive, check out NCAA.com’s live updates.
Contents
The Road to the Semifinals
The road to the semifinals? Absolutely wild. Fans have seen upsets and some jaw-dropping performances that have totally changed the bracket challenge.
Right out of the gate, the first round delivered a shocker. No. 9 Alabama stormed back to beat No. 8 Oklahoma, busting about half the brackets. That was just the start.
Quarterfinal Shocks
The quarterfinals were rough for folks hoping their brackets would stay perfect. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) stunned No. 2 Ohio State, 31-27, in the Fiesta Bowl, leaving just 2 percent of perfect brackets standing.
Then, No. 5 Oregon totally shut out No. 4 Texas Tech in the Rose Bowl. After that, only 1 percent of brackets were still perfect. Ouch.
- No. 10 Miami (Fla.) def. No. 2 Ohio State: 2 percent remaining
- No. 5 Oregon def. No. 4 Texas Tech: 1 percent remaining
Semifinal Showdowns
As the semifinals drew near, the tension was real. No. 1 Indiana squared off against No. 6 Oregon in the Peach Bowl. Meanwhile, No. 10 Miami (Fla.) battled No. 6 Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.
These games would decide which brackets could cling to perfection a little longer. The stakes were sky-high.
Indiana vs. Oregon
No. 1 Indiana came out swinging and crushed No. 6 Oregon, 56-22, in the Peach Bowl. That brutal win chopped the number of perfect brackets from 42 down to 20.
Out of those, 12 had Indiana picked to win it all, while 8 were riding with Miami (Fla.).
Miami (Fla.) vs. Ole Miss
In a tight contest, No. 10 Miami (Fla.) barely edged past No. 6 Ole Miss, 31-27, in the Fiesta Bowl. That kept hope alive for the Miami believers.
After this one, the perfect brackets dropped from 74 to 42. The drama just kept building.
The National Championship Game
With the semifinals in the rearview, all eyes are now on the national championship. No. 1 Indiana faces No. 10 Miami (Fla.) in a matchup that’s got everyone buzzing.
Of the 20 perfect brackets left, 12 are betting on Indiana, and 8 are sticking with Miami (Fla.). Somebody’s walking away with a perfect bracket—how often does that even happen?
Bracket Predictions and Statistics
Looking at the bracket picks, a few patterns jump out. No. 1 Indiana was the favorite, winning it all on 28.11 percent of entries.
No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Georgia followed, with 25.33 percent and 21.67 percent, respectively. More than 82 percent of brackets had one of the top four seeds taking the crown. People love a favorite, don’t they?
- No. 1 Indiana: 28.11%
- No. 2 Ohio State: 25.33%
- No. 3 Georgia: 21.67%
- No. 4 Texas Tech: 7.04%
- No. 5 Oregon: 4.82%
- No. 9 Alabama: 3.55%
- No. 7 Texas A&M: 3.01%
- No. 6 Ole Miss: 1.68%
- No. 8 Oklahoma: 1.61%
- No. 10 Miami (Fla.): 1.54%
- No. 12 James Madison: 1.15%
- No. 11 Tulane: 0.48%
Conclusion
The College Football Playoff season has been a wild ride for fans and everyone taking part in the NCAA.com College Football Bracket Challenge Game. There have been shocking upsets and some truly dominant performances.
No one could’ve predicted how things would unfold. Now, with the national championship game just ahead—No. 1 Indiana facing No. 10 Miami (Fla.)—the stakes feel sky-high.
There are still 20 perfect brackets alive. The final game will decide if anyone manages that elusive perfect bracket. For updates or if you want to dig into the numbers, check out the live updates on NCAA.com.
