Week 13 CFP Bracket Projections: Expert Predictions and Analysis
The calm before the storm in college football is over. Only two weeks remain before the final 12-team College Football Playoff bracket is set.
Week 13 was pretty quiet. Only a handful of games really changed anything about the CFP picture or the conference races.
The biggest game? That had to be No. 5 Oregon (No. 7 in CFP) beating No. 16 Southern California (No. 15 in CFP) 42-27. The Ducks still have just a slim shot at the Big Ten title game, but that win over the Trojans probably locks in their playoff spot.
The ACC, meanwhile, got a little wild. Pittsburgh took down Georgia Tech (No. 16 in CFP).
Georgia Tech only needed to beat the unranked Panthers to clinch a spot in the ACC title game and maybe earn a playoff bid as one of the five highest-ranked conference champs. Now, Virginia and SMU are suddenly the favorites for that title game.
But Miami, Pitt, and Georgia Tech are technically still alive in the race. With time running out to pad their CFP resumes, here’s how USA TODAY Sports thinks the 12-team bracket shapes up when all is said and done:
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Week 13 Recap: Key Games and Outcomes
Week 13 didn’t really shake things up too much. Only a few games stood out in terms of playoff implications.
No. 5 Oregon’s win over No. 16 Southern California was the big one. That victory should just about guarantee Oregon a playoff spot, even if their Big Ten title hopes are slim.
In the ACC, Pittsburgh’s upset over Georgia Tech changed things fast. The Yellow Jackets only needed that win to secure a spot in the ACC title game and maybe a playoff bid, but they couldn’t pull it off.
Now, Virginia and SMU are looking like the favorites, though Miami, Pitt, and Georgia Tech are still mathematically alive. The race is far from settled.
Oregon’s Playoff Push
Oregon’s win over Southern California was the highlight of the week. The Ducks have really shown some grit lately and are making a strong case for a playoff spot.
Even with their outside shot at the Big Ten title game, the win over the Trojans probably locks them into the playoff.
ACC’s Wild Finish
The ACC title race is suddenly up in the air after Pittsburgh beat Georgia Tech. That loss for the Yellow Jackets changed everything.
Virginia and SMU now look like the favorites. Still, Miami, Pitt, and Georgia Tech aren’t out of it yet, so who knows what’ll happen?
Projected 12-Team College Football Playoff Bracket
The season’s almost over, and teams are running out of chances to impress the committee. Here’s USA TODAY Sports’ best guess at how the 12-team bracket will end up:
- Ohio State *
- Texas A&M *
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas Tech *
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Notre Dame
- SMU *
- Tulane *
The biggest changes this week are at the bottom of the projected bracket. Miami might be the most talented team in the conference and could beat Pitt next week, but their path to the ACC championship is barely there.
If it ends up Virginia vs. SMU for the title, the Mustangs look like the favorites to win and grab the ACC’s playoff spot.
Group of Five Picture
The Group of Five situation hasn’t really changed. Tulane is still the pick.
The American standings are a mess, but Tulane feels like the most reliable team. James Madison is closing the gap, but Tulane hangs onto that fifth and final conference champ bid for now.
Looking Ahead: Week 14 and Beyond
As we head into the last week of the regular season, there’s potential for some big shakeups in the 12-team projection. There aren’t many ranked matchups left, so the top five should hold steady.
Oregon made a jump after beating USC. The ACC is still a mess thanks to Georgia Tech’s loss, and Virginia has a real shot at the title and a playoff spot.
Potential Changes in the Bracket
Don’t expect a huge shift in the projected field. The most notable thing is Oregon leaping ahead of Mississippi after their win over Southern California.
Georgia Tech’s loss really turned the ACC upside down. Right now, Virginia looks like the favorite to grab the conference title and one of those top five championship bids.
Final Thoughts
The last two weeks of the college football season are shaping up to be wild. Teams are scrambling for a spot in the College Football Playoff, and honestly, who knows what’ll happen?
The projected 12-team bracket might flip upside down, especially with the ACC still looking like anyone’s game. If you want to dive deeper or just keep tabs on the chaos, take a look at USA TODAY’s CFP rankings and bracket projections.
