Each week, teams will be fighting for position in an effort to make the College Football Playoff. The teams will be ranked each week, but what matters most is who they have played and defeated already on the field. Here is College Football Playoff Preseason Bracketology: Selection Sunday.
Note: This will be updated following each week of games during the season. During the season more notes about the notable wins, losses and schedule will be included for each team.
First Round Byes
1. Indiana Hoosiers (13-0)*
Indiana won the Big Ten Championship and locked up the no. 1 seed in the CFP by beating former no. 1 Ohio State.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1)
Ohio State lost a close one to Indiana, losing by just three points. They could move further down the rankings, but the closeness of the game could keep them at second.
3. Georgia Bulldogs (12-1)*
Georgia got revenge for their only loss of the regular season by defeating Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. They will likely be seeded either two or three.
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1)*
The Red Raiders had no issues defeating BYU in the Big 12 Championship. They will likely stay at four or move up one spot to three in the final rankings.
First Round Hosts
5. Oregon Ducks (11-1)
Oregon didn’t qualify for the Big Ten Championship and shouldn’t move from their no. 5 spot from last week’s rankings.
6. Ole Miss Rebels (11-1)
Like Oregon, Ole Miss was idle this weekend and there is no reason for them to move from the ranking they had last week.
7. Texas A&M Aggies (11-1)
Texas A&M moved down after losing to Texas last week, arguably a little too far. But they also likely won’t get the chance to move up this week.
8. Oklahoma Sooners (10-2)
Oklahoma’s win over Alabama a few weeks ago helped cement their spot as the top two-loss team in the rankings.
Last Four In
9. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3)
The CFP Committee has changed a lot over the years. In the past, losing the conference championship has hurt teams. Last year, the first of the 12-team CFP, teams weren’t really penalized for losing in their conference championships. Since the recent precedent is to not penalize teams, Alabama is in the projected field despite not putting up much of a fight against Georgia in the SEC Championship.
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2)
There are lots of legitimate arguments that BYU or Miami should get this last at-large spot. Notre Dame was ranked ahead of both those teams in last week’s rankings. Since that point, BYU lost in the Big 12 Championship Game, while Notre Dame and Miami were idle. Given that information, Notre Dame should be in based on last week’s rankings, even if there are valid arguments against the Fighting Irish getting in the CFP.
11. Tulane Green Wave (11-2)*
After being ranked the highest out of any group of five team, Tulane had a pretty simple path this weekend: win and they’re in. They defeated North Texas in the American Conference Championship Game and get the 11 seed instead of the 12 seed because Duke beat Virginia in the ACC Championship Game.
12. James Madison Dukes (12-1)*
James Madison defeated Troy in the Sun Belt Championship Game. They needed Duke to beat Virginia to have a shot at the CFP and they got exactly what they needed. The Dukes are likely in the field, but there is a small chance Duke jumps them and gets in.
First Four Out
BYU Cougars (11-2)
BYU was on the outside looking in last week and lost to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game, which will likely leave them out of the CFP.
Miami Hurricanes (10-2)
Miami has a legitimate case to be in the CFP, but the committee left them out last week and with nothing changing, the Hurricanes are likely out.
Texas Longhorns (9-3)
Texas has three losses, which really limits their chances and they are likely going to be ranked right around where they were ranked last week.
Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2)
There should be no movement for Vanderbilt, as they didn’t play this weekend.
First Out- Conference Champions
Duke Blue Devils (8-5)
Duke won the ACC, but the five losses are probably too many for them to make the CFP.
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