Image Courtesy: Sports Illustrated
CFP Top 12
1.Oregon 11-0 (8-0) Big Ten This week: Washington (6-5) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, NBC)
2.Ohio State 10-1 (7-1) Big Ten This week: Michigan (6-5) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
3.Texas 10-1 (6-1) SEC This week: @ 20.Texas A&M (8-3) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
4.Penn State 10-1 (7-1) Big Ten This week: Maryland (4-7) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, BTN)
5.Notre Dame 10-1 Independents This week: @ USC (6-5) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
6.Miami 10-1 (6-1) ACC This week: @ Syracuse (8-3) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN)
7.Georgia 9-2 (6-2) SEC This week: Georgia Tech (7-4) (Friday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
8.Tennessee 9-2 (5-2) SEC This week: @ Vanderbilt (6-5) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
9.SMU 10-1 (7-0) ACC This week: California (6-5) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN2)
10.Indiana 10-1 (7-1) Big Ten This week: Purdue (1-10) (Saturday, 7 PM ET, FS1)
11.Boise State 10-1 (7-0) Mountain West This week: @ Oregon State (5-6) (Friday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
12.Clemson 9-2 (7-1) ACC This week: 15.South Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ESPN)
Projected College Football Playoff Bracket (How the College Football Playoff bracket is seeded)
First Round
Athens
8.Georgia
9.Tennessee
Columbus
5.Ohio State
12.Arizona State
State College
6.Penn State
11.Indiana
South Bend
7.Indiana
10.SMU
Quarterfinals
Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
1.Oregon
8.Georgia/9.Tennessee
Fiesta Bowl (Glendale)
4.Boise State
5.Ohio State/12.Arizona State
Peach Bowl (Atlanta)
3.Miami
6.Penn State/11.Indiana
Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
2.Texas
7.Indiana/10.SMU
Biggest risers and fallers in the CFP Top 25 this week:
Risers
7.Georgia 9-2 (6-2) SEC Week 13: #10 (Defeated Massachusetts 59-21)
8.Tennessee 9-2 (5-2) SEC Week 13: #11 (Defeated UTEP 56-0)
9.SMU 10-1 (7-0) ACC Week 13: #13 (Defeated Virginia 33-7)
12.Clemson 9-2 (7-1) ACC Week 13: #17 (Defeated The Citadel 51-14)
15.South Carolina 8-3 (5-3) SEC Week 13: #18 (Defeated Wofford 56-12)
16.Arizona State 9-2 (6-2) Big 12 Week 13: #21 (Defeated 14.BYU 28-23)
17.Tulane 9-2 (7-0) American Athletic Week 13: #20 (Defeated Navy 35-0)
18.Iowa State 9-2 (6-2) Big 12 Week 13: #22 (Defeated Utah 31-28)
Fallers
10.Indiana 10-1 (7-1) Big Ten Week 13: #5 (Lost to 2.Ohio State 38-15)
13.Alabama 8-3 (4-3) SEC Week 13: #7 (Lost to Oklahoma 24-3)
14.Ole Miss 8-3 (4-3) SEC Week 13: #9 (Lost to Florida 24-17)
19.BYU 9-2 (6-2) Big 12 Week 12: #14 (Lost to 21.Arizona State 28-23)
20.Texas A&M 8-3 (5-2) SEC Week 12: #15 (Lost to Auburn 43-41)
25.Colorado 8-3 (6-2) Big 12 Week 12: #16 (Lost to Kansas 37-21)
Dropped Out
Army 9-1 (7-0) American Athletic Week 13: #19 (Lost to 6.Notre Dame 49-14)
New
24.Kansas State 8-3 (5-3) Big 12 Week 13: NR (Defeated Cincinnati 41-15)
Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)
Thursday, November 28
Memphis (9-2) @ 17.Tulane (9-2)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Tulane has locked up a spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game but it will want to go prevent conference foe Memphis from ending the regular season with a victory. The Green Wave would also stay in contention for the Group of 5’s spot in the College Football Playoff with a win over Army in the conference title game. Green Wave QB Darian Mensah will look to get the ball down field to his trio of terrific receivers Mario Williams, Dontae Fleming, and Yulkeith Brown while running back Makhi Hughes will attempt to build on his 1,291 yard and 15 touchdown season against the Tigers. Linebacker Tyler Grubbs will look to sack Memphis signal-caller Seth Henigan while safety Bailey Despanie will look to pick him off. The Tigers also have a terrific tailback in Mario Anderson Jr., who has rushed for 1,115 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season as well as receivers Roc Taylor and Demeer Blakumsee, who will look to make plays down field for Henigan. This game should be close for three quarters but the Green Wave will extend their lead and defeat the Tigers in the fourth quarter. Projected Score: Tulane 38, Memphis 28
Friday, November 29
Georgia Tech (7-4) @ 7.Georgia (9-2)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
Georgia Tech looks to spoil Georgia’s College Football Playoff chances by giving them their third loss on Friday night on the road in Athens after the Bulldogs clinched a spot in Atlanta at the SEC Championship in Atlanta . The Yellow Jackets come off a win over NC State by a score of 30-29 last Thursday so they are well rested entering this game. The Bulldogs struggled against UMass in the first half, until they turned it up in the second half, winning 59-21. Georgia’s Carson Beck has had an up and down season but he has upped his play of late as has his favorite targets Arian Smith and Oscar Delp. The lack of continuity in the backfield has been an issue for the Bulldogs with Trevor Etienne’s injuries. True freshman Nate Frazier has stepped in for Etienne over the season to provide some stability but it is not the tremendous play the Bulldog coaching staff is used to at the position. The Bulldog defense is not up the standard of the 2021 or 2022 national championship teams helping result in their first multiple loss season in a while. They face former Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King, who wraps up his second regular season in Atlanta playing for Georgia Tech. Jamal Haynes and Chad Alexander split time at running back for the Yellow Jackets while Eric Singleton and Malik Rutherford provide deep threats for King. At the end of the day, if Georgia does not win this game, it will not be a successful season. Kirby Smart’s team must win this game and I think they will against Georgia Tech at home inside Sanford Stadium. Projected Score: Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 21
Saturday, November 30
Michigan (6-5) @ 2.Ohio State (10-1)
12 PM ET, FOX
After “The Game” was a game with College Football Playoff implications the last four seasons, Michigan has only won six games following its national championship in January and the exit of head coach Jim Harbaugh back to the NFL. Ohio State again comes into the weekend with Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff aspirations, looking for its first win over Michigan since 2019. The Buckeyes have relied both on their quarterback, Kansas State transfer Will Howard getting the ball down field to Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate as well as maybe the best tailback duo in the country, former Ole Miss back Quinshon Judkins and Buckeye mainstay TreVeyon Henderson. In most of the seasons Ryan Day’s team has failed to beat “the team up north” and win a national championship, it has been the defense letting him and the team down late in the season. This season, that problem has been solved with second year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Safeties Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs lead the way for Knowles with an incredible season up to this point. Michigan has struggled to pick a quarterback in Sherrone Moore’s first season as head coach with three quarterbacks splitting snaps throughout the season (Davis Warren, Jack Tuttle, and Alex Orji). Warren has emerged as the go to guy for Moore, throwing for six touchdowns but he has turned the ball over seven times. If the Wolverines want to win in Columbus on Saturday afternoon, they must rely on their ground game with Kalel Mullins and Donovan Edwards. If the ground game gets going, it will be easier for Warren to get the ball down the field to star tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Tyler Morris against the Buckeyes star studded secondary. They dominated Northwestern last Saturday, giving up only six points to the Wildcats in large part due to leading tacklers Ernest Hausmann, Jaishawn Barham, and the Wolverines’ defense. They will have to keep it up against the high-flying Ohio State offense if they want to pull the upset. A loss to Michigan for Ryan Day this season would be a fireable offense in many fans’ opinions but I believe the result will be a Buckeye blowout. Projected Score: Ohio State 42, Michigan 17
8.Tennessee (9-2) @ Vanderbilt (6-5)
12 PM ET, ABC
Like Georgia, a Tennessee loss will knock them out of the College Football Playoff conversation. Vanderbilt can definitely play spoiler but they have struggled of late, losing three of their last four games. It will be up to Commodore signal-caller Diego Pavia to get a bounce back performance at home, even if the stadium may be full of Volunteer fans on Saturday afternoon. Pavia must get the ball down the field to tight end Eli Stowers, receiver Junior Sherrill, and receiver Quincy Skinner Jr. Pavia is also a tremendous rusher, leading the way for the Commodores in rushing yards but his running back Sedrick Alexander, has been a good help this season, giving them five touchdowns. The season may not be what Nico Iamaleava wants it to be so far but he does have his team in prime position for a playoff spot if they can finish the job against Vanderbilt. His tailback Dylan Sampson has been phenomenal this season, rushing for over 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season. The Vols’ defense must be able to stop the Commodores on the ground to win this game and they can do that with the play of linebacker Arion Carter, who has 58 tackles and defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. who has 34 tackles and 7.5 sacks. If Clark Lea’s team pulls an upset of the Volunteers, bad things would happen in Knoxville. But, I think the Vols edge the Commodores on Saturday afternoon. Projected Score: Tennessee 24, Vanderbilt 21
15.South Carolina (8-3) @ 12.Clemson (9-2)
12 PM ET, ESPN
Clemson will look to protect its home field, defeat its instate rival South Carolina, and appear in the ACC Championship game next weekend with a Miami loss to Syracuse. South Carolina also has an outside shot at getting a spot in the College Football Playoff with a win over the Tigers and some help if a few teams lose in front of them. The Gamecocks are one of the hottest teams in America and it is in big part due to the much improved play of their quarterback LaNorris Sellers, running back Rocket Sanders and their great front seven, led by Demetrius Knight Jr., Bam Martin-Scott, Debo Williams, and Kyle Kennard. Tigers signal-caller Cade Klubnik, who has exploded for 29 passing touchdowns and tailback Phil Mafah (8 touchdowns on the season), have been the drumbeat of Dabo Swinney’s offense this season. They will be challenged at home by Clayton White’s tremendous defense. For the Tiger defense, Dabo Swinney loves his linebackers and his guys Barrett Carter (61 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 5 passes defended) and Wade Woodaz (61 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception) have been doing it their entire careers for him. Shane Beamer’s team has been much improved since week one and they will show everyone in Clemson on Saturday afternoon that they are worthy of being in the College Football Playoff. Projected Score: South Carolina 34, Clemson 24
6.Miami (10-1) @ Syracuse (8-3)
3:30 PM ET, ESPN
After SMU clinched a spot in the ACC Championship game last Saturday with a win over Virginia, Miami will look to do the same with a victory over Syracuse on the road in upstate New York. First year head coach Fran Brown, who came over from Texas A&M, has led Syracuse to a successful eight win season up to this point. The Orange will look to play spoiler and up their chances at a better bowl game by defeating the Hurricanes. Cam Ward continues a phenomenal season under center in Coral Gables after transferring from Washington State. The tailback duo of Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher have combined for 14 touchdowns for the Hurricanes while receiver Xavier Restrepo has been Mr. Reliable for Ward this season, scoring 10 touchdowns. Miami linebacker Francisco Maugoia has exploded for 75 tackles, 5 passes defended, 2 sacks, and an interception so he will attempt to make things difficult for Orange quarterback Kyle McCord and his offense. The former Ohio State signal-caller has thrown 26 touchdowns but has turned the ball over 12 times. His running back LeQuint Allen and leading receiver Oronde Gadsden II must be factors for Syracuse to upset Miami and eliminate them from the ACC title game and the College Football Playoff. Projected Score: Miami 35, Syracuse 27
Auburn (5-6) @ 13.Alabama (8-3)
3:30 PM ET, ABC
Everything went wrong for Alabama in Norman against Oklahoma on Saturday night while Auburn pushed all the buttons as they defeated 15.Texas A&M in four overtimes, 43-41, after letting the Aggies back in game after leading 21-0 in the first half. The loss cost Alabama a chance at not only the College Football Playoff but a shot to play in the SEC Championship game. First year head coach Kalen DeBoer’s team has struggled in games where his quarterback, Jalen Milroe, has struggled. Milroe will look to bounce back from his performance last Saturday while Auburn will hope they can get a third consecutive win. He needs to have a better pocket presence and get the ball down the field to receivers Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and tight end CJ Dippre. If he gets a good pocket presence, it would help his chances to get outside of the pocket and continue his rushing prowess as he leads the Crimson Tide with 615 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. Linebackers Jihaad Campbell, Deontae Lawson, and defensive back Malachi Moore will look to end Auburn’s two game winning streak and keep them from going bowling. They will look rattle quarterback Payton Thorne and keep him from getting receivers KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Cam Coleman, who were incredible in their win over the Aggies last Saturday. Tiger running back Jarquez Hunter was also incredible last Saturday night, rushing for 130 yards and 3 TDs. It will be important for Hugh Freeze’s team to get him going to beat the Crimson Tide. The Tigers’ defense has improved the last few weeks as linebacker Dorian Mausi Jr. (71 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble) and safety Jerrin Thompson (60 tackles, 4 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack) will look to end Alabama’s regular season ends with four losses. Can Hugh Freeze’s team pull an upset many think he never would to end the season in Bryant-Denny Stadium? Projected Score: Auburn 31, Alabama 28
24.Kansas State (8-3) @ 18.Iowa State (9-2)
7:30 PM ET, FOX
Kansas State is a game back of Iowa State in the Big 12 standings entering Saturday night’s showdown. The Cyclones (6-2) are apart of a four game tie in the Big 12. A win is all Iowa State needs to accomplish to move on to the Big 12 title game because of tiebreaker rules. But, facing the Wildcats will not be an easy chore. Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht has had an up and down season, passing for 18 touchdowns but he has thrown 8 picks as well. The Cyclone offensive line must make sure the Wildcat defensive line does not get to him so that he can get the ball to receivers Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and tight ends Gabe Burkle and Benjamin Brahmer. The Iowa State secondary is headed by Malik Verdon (74 tackles, 5 passes defended, 1 interception, and 1 sack) and Beau Freyler (67 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 passes defended). They will attempt to stop the young Avery Johnson, who has similar stats to Becht, throwing for just a touchdown (19) and interception (9) more. The Wildcats must trust tailback DJ Giddens to continue his terrific season to help his quarterback get going in this game. In what should be a back and forth affair, expect both the aforementioned Iowa State defense and the Kansas State defense, led by Austin Romaine who has 77 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 pass defended on the year make the Farmageddon Rivalry low scoring to end this regular season for both teams. Projected Score: Iowa State 20, Kansas State 17
Washington (6-5) @ 1.Oregon (11-0)
7:30 PM ET, NBC
Oregon locked up a spot in the Big Ten Championship game in their first season in the conference two weeks ago before their off week last weekend. They will look to maintain their success and keep their number one spot in the College Football Playoff rankings with a victory over rival Washington in a rematch of last season’s Pac-12 Championship game last December. Ex-Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers (14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on the season) has not been nearly as good in Seattle as he was playing for Mike Leach in Starkville but he has a chance to lead his Huskies to an upset over the top ranked team in the country. The loss would not eliminate the Ducks from anything but would give them negative momentum entering next Saturday’s Big Ten title game in Indianapolis. Rogers’ running back Jonah Coleman has over 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season while his leading receiver Denzel Boston (764 yards and 9 touchdowns) must help him out down the field. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel still has his name in contention for the Heisman Trophy but if he still wants to win it, he must continue to perform in this game. Gabriel’s receiving combo of Tez Johnson (8 TDs) and Evan Stewart (5 TDs) have been killing secondaries the entire season. The Duck defense has been phenomenal this season under the direction of Dan Lanning and Tush Lupoi. They will look to give one more quality performance against a Washington offense that has not been nearly as good without Kalen DeBoer in charge and Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback. Projected Score: Oregon 38, Washington 20
3.Texas (10-1) @ 20.Texas A&M (8-3)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
For the first time in thirteen years, Texas will face Texas A&M on Thanksgiving weekend on the gridiron at Kyle Field in College Station. The Longhorns come off a 31-14 win over Kentucky in Austin while Texas A&M lost a four hour, four overtime marathon to Auburn on the road in a game they trailed by three touchdowns. The winner of the Lone Star Showdown on Saturday night goes to the SEC Championship game to face Georgia in Atlanta. Texas signal-caller Quinn Ewers is dealing with an ankle sprain he suffered in the win over the Wildcats last week but he is expected to play. If somehow he can’t play it will be the backup Arch Manning in his place. No matter who it is a quarterback for the Longhorns, they will have to get the ball down the field to tight end Gunnar Helm (544 yards and 5 TDs) and Isaiah Bond (510 yards and 5 TDs). With injuries riddling the room, Texas has trusted three guys to get carries; Quintrevion Wisner, Jaydon Blue, and Jerrick Gibson. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and defensive back Michael Taaffe have been playing great football all season and they will look to extend their arch rival Texas A&M’s losing streak to two by getting to Aggie quarterback Marcel Reed who has thrown for 1,426 yards, rushed for 441 yards, and has 18 total touchdowns. Hill and Taaffe will also have to deal with defending against running backs Le’Veon Moss (765 yards and 10 TDs) and Amari Daniels (640 yards and 8 TDs) in addition receiver Noah Thomas (514 yards and 6 TDs). The lack of Aggie receiving threats may hurt them but the power of the “12th Man” in College Station will help them as they look to upset the third ranked ‘Horns and avenge their last loss to their old rival in 2011. Projected Score: Texas A&M 27, Texas 24
