Vanderbilt’s Historic Win Shakes Up College Football Playoff Projections
The latest College Football Playoff projections are out, and, honestly, things are starting to get interesting. There’ve been some wild performances and a few key wins, so now teams are elbowing each other for a shot at the postseason.
This week? There were some big changes, especially with the SEC flexing its muscles and, believe it or not, the Commodores sneaking into the top-10 for the first time in what feels like forever.
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Top Teams Solidify Their Positions
It was a pretty quiet week at the top. Most of the big names held steady, no real shake-ups.
Ohio State didn’t play, but they’re still hanging onto that top spot. Indiana and Texas A&M are right there, breathing down their necks.
The Aggies looked sharp, crushing LSU, so they’re not going away quietly. That win keeps them in the mix for number one, and honestly, who knows what happens next?
SEC’s Dominance
The SEC is, once again, making its case as the toughest conference out there. Four one-loss teams have landed in the projected playoff field, which is kind of wild.
- Alabama: The Crimson Tide locked up their place by taking down both Georgia and Vanderbilt.
- Georgia: The Bulldogs barely got past Ole Miss, but a win is a win.
- Ole Miss: The Rebels jumped ahead of Miami after pulling off a big road victory at Oklahoma.
- Vanderbilt: The Commodores stunned Missouri, and now they’re in the top-10. Not something anyone saw coming.
Movement Among Other Conferences
Outside the SEC, there was some movement too. Oregon, repping the Pac-12, actually dropped a spot even though they beat Wisconsin in a pretty workmanlike fashion.
Texas Tech edged out BYU for the Big 12 spot, and Georgia Tech’s blowout win over Syracuse snagged them the last at-large slot.
BYU and Notre Dame on the Cusp
BYU and Notre Dame are both right on the edge, but not quite in. Notre Dame took the week off and slipped out, while BYU is just barely on the outside looking in.
The next couple of games are going to be huge for both squads if they want to make the cut.
American and Sun Belt Conferences
In the American, Tulane managed to slide into the fifth and final conference champion spot after USF lost to Memphis. That’s a big opportunity for them.
The Sun Belt’s top dog, James Madison, is still in the conversation too. It’s actually kind of impressive how deep some of these conferences are getting.
Navy’s the only undefeated team left in the American, but their schedule from here on out? Brutal.
It’s going to take something special for them to crash the playoff party.
Key Upcoming Games in Week 10
Looking ahead to Week 10, a handful of games could really shake things up. Here are five you probably shouldn’t miss:
- Vanderbilt at Texas: Noon (ABC)
- Penn State at Ohio State: Noon (Fox)
- South Carolina at Ole Miss: 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- Oklahoma at Tennessee: 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
- USC at Nebraska: 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
These matchups could flip the playoff picture on its head or just reinforce what we already think we know. Either way, it’s shaping up to be a wild finish.
Conclusion
The college football playoff race is getting wild. Every week, something unexpected happens and suddenly the rankings shift again.
The SEC is flexing its muscles, but the Commodores are sneaking into the spotlight too. Week 10 is packed with matchups that could shake everything up—nobody really knows what’s coming.
If you’re craving more details or just want to see how the experts are calling it, you can check out the full article here.
