Oregon, Georgia, Miami, and BYU continue to hold the top four positions in the latest College Football Playoff projection following the weekend’s games, marking the last view of the bracket before the playoff rankings are officially introduced.
Oregon, Georgia, and Miami maintained their esteemed seeds after securing victories, while BYU remained in the lineup, having a bye week.
Indiana’s first-time entry into the bracket adds to the representation from the Big Ten and SEC, each holding four teams ahead of the CFP’s upcoming rankings reveal on Tuesday night.
The Hoosiers made their debut in the top 10 of the AP poll, positioning them as the No. 9 seed, set to take on No. 8 Tennessee in their initial playoff appearance. Meanwhile, Alabama is making its way back into the picture as the No. 11 seed, preparing for a match against No. 6 Texas.
It is important to note the playoff structure: the top four seeds are designated for the highest-ranked conference champions, regardless of their overall rankings. Furthermore, the five highest-ranked conference champions guarantee themselves spots in the playoff bracket, with no limit on the number of teams allowed from a single conference.
According to the latest breakdown from the AP Top 25:
— No. 9 Indiana will face No. 8 Tennessee, with the winner advancing to meet No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
— No. 12 Boise State will battle No. 5 Ohio State, with the winner taking on No. 4 BYU in the Fiesta Bowl.
— No. 10 Notre Dame is set to play against No. 7 Penn State, with the victor going against No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
— Lastly, No. 11 Alabama is matched up against No. 6 Texas, and the winner will go ahead to meet No. 3 Miami in the Peach Bowl.
New entries this week include Indiana and Alabama, while Texas A&M and either Clemson or Iowa State have dropped out.
Looking ahead, the next five teams in contention are SMU, LSU, Texas A&M, Mississippi, and Iowa State.
Stay informed about the latest updates and alerts concerning the AP Top 25 throughout the collegiate football season.