Week 14 College Football Playoff Bracket Projections: High Stakes

As the college football season barrels toward its wild conclusion, Week 14 really turned up the drama. Rivalry games went down to the wire, and a few upsets made the playoff seeding a lot more interesting than anyone expected.

Sports Illustrated just dropped an updated look at the playoff seeding and matchups. Honestly, this is what makes college football so addictive—every week feels like a new story. Let’s get into some of the biggest moments and what they might mean as we hit the home stretch.

The Iron Bowl and Alabama’s Playoff Hopes

The Iron Bowl? Absolutely bonkers. Alabama pulled off a win with a gutsy fourth-and-2 touchdown, clinching their spot in the SEC championship game.

That victory locked them into Atlanta and pretty much guaranteed a playoff berth. Even if they lose to Georgia in the SEC title game, it’s hard to imagine a 10–3 Alabama dropping out of the bracket. The real question is how the seeding shakes out—and who’s got the best shot at knocking off Ohio State.

ACC Chaos and Virginia’s Triumph

The ACC had its own version of chaos. Virginia took care of business against Virginia Tech and punched their ticket to Charlotte.

But then, Duke somehow landed in the title game after Cal stunned SMU at the last second. If Duke actually wins the ACC? That could unleash a doomsday scenario for the conference, since a champion with five losses might get leapfrogged by a Sun Belt team like James Madison. Selection Sunday could get real awkward for the ACC.

Conference Championship Matchups

This weekend is loaded. Conference championship games are set, and they’ll decide the final playoff bracket. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Sun Belt: Troy at James Madison, Harrisonburg, Va. – 7 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN)
• Conference USA: Kennesaw St. at Jacksonville St., Jacksonville, Ala. – 7 p.m. ET Friday (CBSSN)
• American: North Texas vs. Tulane, New Orleans – 8 p.m. ET Friday (ABC)
• Mountain West: UNLV at Boise State, Boise, Idaho – 8 p.m. ET Friday (Fox)
• Big 12: BYU vs. Texas Tech, Arlington, Texas – Noon ET Saturday (ABC)
• MAC: Western Michigan vs. Miami (Ohio), Detroit – Noon ET Saturday (ESPN)
• SEC: Georgia vs. Alabama, Atlanta – 4 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)
• ACC: Virginia vs. Duke, Charlotte – 8 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)
• Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Indiana, Indianapolis – 8 p.m. ET Saturday (Fox)

Bubble Teams and At-Large Bids

The playoff bracket hasn’t changed much, but the bubble is crowded. No. 11 BYU came from behind to clinch a Big 12 title shot.

No. 12 Miami made some noise by crushing No. 22 Pitt, and Utah and Texas both got a boost after Michigan stumbled. Now, all eyes are on No. 8 Oklahoma’s game against LSU—could be a ticket to an at-large bid, or just another heartbreak. Every matchup is starting to feel like a playoff game in itself.

Rivalry Week Drama

Rivalry week did not disappoint. Texas shocked Texas A&M, spoiling the Aggies’ shot at their first SEC title game.

Still, A&M is locked into a playoff spot and will host a game at Kyle Field. The debate is already heating up over whether Texas deserves an at-large bid, and honestly, strength of schedule is going to be a big talking point.

Georgia’s SEC Title Game Appearance

Georgia is officially in the SEC championship game. We could get a rematch with Alabama, or maybe Lane Kiffin’s Mississippi sneaks in—who knows.

This one matters for seeding and maybe even for a home playoff game. Kirby Smart’s got his team locked in, as usual, and they look ready for whatever comes next.

Big Ten Showdown: Ohio State vs. Indiana

Ohio State knocked off Michigan and punched their ticket to the Big Ten title game. They’ll face Indiana, who, believe it or not, went undefeated in the regular season after years of being the FBS’s ultimate underdog.

This is a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, and it’s got huge playoff implications. Ohio State’s focus is razor-sharp heading to Indy, but Indiana’s got nothing to lose and everything to prove.

The Impact of Coaching Changes

Coaching changes could shake things up down the stretch. The Rebels are in the playoff, but rumors are swirling about their head coach’s future.

Same goes for the Green Wave as they get ready for North Texas in the American title game. All this uncertainty just adds more drama to an already wild playoff race.

The final weekend of the regular season is shaping up to be something special. Nearly every conference title game spot is still on the line.

The College Football Playoff? It’s crunch time for a bunch of programs. Rivalries could get wild, and honestly, who doesn’t love a good upset?

If you want to check out the current playoff seeding and matchups, here’s Sports Illustrated’s live projections. Worth a look if you’re curious or just like a little chaos.