Image Courtesy: Online Athens
CFP Top 12
1.Oregon 12-0 (9-0) Big Ten This week: 3.Penn State (11-1) (Indianapolis) (Saturday, 8 PM ET, CBS)
2.Texas 11-1 (7-1) SEC This week: 5.Georgia (10-2) (Atlanta) (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ABC)
3.Penn State 11-1 (8-1) Big Ten This week: Oregon (12-0) (Indianapolis) (Saturday, 8 PM ET, CBS)
4.Notre Dame 11-1 Independents This week: Off
5.Georgia 10-2 (6-2) SEC This week: 2.Texas (11-1) (Atlanta) (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ABC)
6.Ohio State 10-2 (7-2) Big Ten This week: Off
7.Tennessee 10-2 (6-2) SEC This week: Off
8.SMU 11-1 (8-0) ACC This week: 17.Clemson (9-3) (Charlotte) (Saturday, 8 PM ET, ABC)
9.Indiana 11-1 (8-1) Big Ten This week: Off
10.Boise State 11-1 (7-0) Mountain West This week: 20.UNLV (10-2) (Friday, 8 PM ET, FOX)
11.Alabama 9-3 (5-3) SEC This week: Off
12.Miami 10-2 (6-2) ACC This week: Off
Projected College Football Playoff Bracket (How the College Football Playoff bracket is seeded)
First Round
Columbus
8.Ohio State
9.Tennessee
State College
5.Penn State
12.Arizona State
South Bend
6.Notre Dame
11.Alabama
Athens
7.Georgia
10.Indiana
Quarterfinals
Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
1.Oregon
8.Ohio State/9.Tennessee
Fiesta Bowl (Glendale)
4.Boise State
5.Penn State/12.Arizona State
Peach Bowl (Atlanta)
3.SMU
6.Notre Dame/11.Alabama
Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
2.Texas
7.Georgia/10.Indiana
Biggest risers and fallers in the CFP Top 25 this week:
Risers
5.Georgia 10-2 (6-2) SEC Week 14: #7 (Defeated Georgia Tech 44-42)
11.Alabama 9-3 (5-3) SEC Week 14: #13 (Defeated Auburn 28-14)
16.Iowa State 10-2 (7-2) Big 12 Week 14: #18 (Defeated 24.Kansas State 29-24)
Fallers
6.Ohio State 10-2 (7-2) Big Ten Week 14: #2 (Lost to Michigan 13-10)
12.Miami 10-2 (6-2) ACC Week 14: #6 (Lost to Syracuse 42-38)
17.Clemson 9-3 (7-1) ACC Week 14: #12 (Lost to 15.South Carolina 17-14)
Dropped Out
Tulane 9-3 (7-1) American Athletic Week 14: #17 (Lost to Memphis 34-24)
Texas A&M 8-4 (5-3) SEC Week 14: #20 (Lost to 3.Texas 17-7)
Kansas State 8-4 (5-4) Big 12 Week 14: #24 (Lost to 18.Iowa State 29-24)
New
22.Syracuse 9-3 (5-3) ACC Week 14: NR (Defeated 6.Miami 42-38)
24.Army 10-1 (8-0) American Athletic Week 14: NR (Defeated UTSA 29-24)
25.Memphis 10-2 (6-2) American Athletic Week 14: NR (Defeated 17.Tulane 34-24)
Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)
Friday, December 6
Mountain West Championship
20.UNLV (10-2) @ 10.Boise State (11-1)
8 PM ET, FOX
The winner of Friday’s Mountain West Championship game between Boise State and UNLV will be the first ever designated Group of Five representative in the 12-team College Football Playoff. A win for the Broncos will likely keep them as the four seed with a bye into the quarterfinals. However, a win for the Runnin’ Rebels would likely place them as the number 12 seed, sending the winner of the Big 12 to the four seed as UNLV would likely be ranked outside of the top 12 in the final rankings no matter how big their margin of victory would be. The headliner, of course, for the Broncos, is Heisman Trophy co-favorite Ashton Jeanty, who is on pace to break Barry Sanders’ all-time single season rushing record. Jeanty, who has rushed for 2,288 yards and 28 scores on the season, needs 340 rush yards during the conference championship and in potential College Football Playoff games to break Barry Sanders’ of record of 2,628 yards. It will be up to Jeanty’s offensive line and quarterback Maddux Madsen, who has an incredible touchdown to turnover ratio (21 to 3) to give him as many chances to break the record and win this game. UNLV has to travel to Boise to play this one but the Runnin’ Rebels have one of the best defenses in the Mountain West, being led by the league’s defensive player of the year, linebacker Jackson Woodard (114 tackles, 9 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 3.5 sacks, and 2 fumbles recovered) and defensive back Jalen Catalon (82 tackles, 5 interceptions, 3 passes defended, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble). That defense will be the biggest challenge the Broncos’ offense has seen since facing Oregon in week 1, their last loss. UNLV’s offense does not have a tailback like Jeanty but they do have a 1,000+ yard receiver in Ricky White III, who has caught 11 of quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams 17 touchdown passes. This game will be close, I think Boise State protects their home field and clinches a top four seed in the College Football Playoff. Projected Score: Boise State 27, UNLV 24
Saturday, December 7
Big 12 Championship
15.Arizona State (10-2) vs. 16.Iowa State (10-2) (Arlington)
12 PM ET, ABC
As I mentioned in the Mountain West Championship game preview, the winner of the Arizona State/Iowa State Big 12 Championship game must hope for UNLV to upset Boise State on the road so that either the Sun Devils or Cyclones can get a top four seed and a bye in the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff. The Sun Devils and Cyclones were in a four-way tie with BYU and Colorado for the Big 12 lead at 6-2 in Big 12 play. Because of tiebreakers going their way, the two teams advanced to the conference championship game. Arizona State comes into Arlington winners of five straight games. The Sun Devils are in the Big 12 Championship game in just their first season in the conference and their second season under former Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, the youngest head coach in college football. Dillingham’s offense gets things going for the Sun Devils. Notably, running back Cam Skattebo (1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns) sets up the pass for quarterback Sam Leavitt (2,444 yards and 21 touchdowns and 5 interceptions) and receiver Jordyn Tyson (1,101 yards and 10 TDs). Dillingham’s defense is talented in the secondary is talented with defensive backs Myles Bowser (87 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 1 sack) and Xavion Alford (75 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) looking to pick of Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht (21 TDs) who has already thrown eight interceptions so far this fall. Becht’s leading receiver Jayden Higgins (1,068 yards and 9 TDs) and tailback Carson Hansen (618 yards and 11 TDs) will look to help him out as the Cyclones play their first Big 12 football championship since falling to Oklahoma in 2020. In what should be a close game, Arizona State will clinch their first Big 12 championship in their first year in the conference. Projected Score: Arizona State 35, Iowa State 21
SEC Championship
2.Texas (11-1) vs. 5.Georgia (10-2) (Atlanta)
4 PM ET, ABC
Texas will look to avenge an October 19th loss they took at home to Georgia, 30-15, is the higher ranked team once again in this matchup. The Longhorns face the Bulldogs after a win over Texas A&M in the first “Lone Star Showdown” since 2011 on the road in College Station. Steve Sarkisian’s team is looking for a second consecutive conference championship and their first SEC championship in their first year in the league after winning the Big 12 title in their last season over their finale in the conference last fall. However, last Friday in Atlanta, it took Georgia until the second half to get going and eight overtimes to beat instate rival Georgia Tech 44-42. As they make the short return trip to Atlanta for their fourth consecutive appearance in the SEC Championship game, they will have to start much faster against a more talented Texas team. Carson Beck must rely on running backs Trevor Etienne (who is “hopeful” to return from a rib injury) and Nate Frazier to establish the play action passing game to receivers Arian Smith, Dominic Lovett, and Dillon Bell. The Bulldog defense must put up a much better effort in Saturday’s game than they did last Friday because giving up 44 points again will be a bad recipe for defeating the Longhorns. For Texas, quarterback Quinn Ewers continues to nurse an ankle injury but he is expected to play. I do expect backup Arch Manning to continue to get action as well but either way there must be consistent quarterback play from the Longhorns against a Georgia defense that is led by star safety Malaki Starks, who has three passes defended and an interception on the season. Texas can get past Georgia’s secondary by spreading them out with tight end Gunnar Helm, and receivers Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond. The Longhorn front seven is maybe the best in the country with linebackers Anthony Hill Jr. (84 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 interception) and David Gbenda (51 tackles and 1 sack). In what could be the second game of a three game series if the two teams get to meet in the College Football Playoff, Texas will get revenge on Georgia to win the SEC in just their first season in the conference. Projected Score: Texas 28, Georgia 24
Big Ten Championship
1.Oregon (12-0) vs. 3.Penn State (11-1) (Indianapolis)
8 PM ET, CBS
A win for Oregon over Penn State would continue the Ducks’ undefeated season and lock up the top seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff. After Ohio State got upset by Michigan last Saturday, Penn State was gifted the opportunity to play in the Big Ten title game against the Ducks. The Nittany Lions would appear in the playoff for the first time ever with a win. Drew Allar has been inconsistent but the veteran quarterback has limited turnovers this season throwing 18 touchdowns compared to just 5 interceptions on the season. Allar must trust tight end Tyler Warren (978 yards and 6 TDs), receivers Harrison Wallace III (579 yards and 3 TDs), and Omari Evans (338 yards and 3 TDs) to be reliable targets for him. Penn State’s tailback tandem of Nicholas Singleton (733 yards and 7 TDs) and Kaytron Allen (698 yards and 5 TDs) is really the engine that makes their offense go. The Nittany Lion defense, headed by safety Jaylen Reed (75 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 1.5 sacks) to beat an Oregon offense that has had a lot of success this season. Receivers Tez Johnson (685 yards and 9 TDs) and Evan Stewart (613 yards and 5 TDs) make their quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s job much easier. As does Gabriel’s running back, Jordan James who has gone for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. 80 tackle linebacker Bryce Boettcher will be the guy the Penn State offense is preparing for this week. Boettcher and his teammates will attempt to disrupt the Penn State offense. I think they will do a good enough job for the Ducks to move to 13-0 on the season and win the Big Ten in their first season in the league. Projected Score: Oregon 31, Penn State 21
ACC Championship
8.SMU (11-1) vs. 17.Clemson (9-3) (Charlotte)
8 PM ET, ABC
SMU is another team in their first season in a conference to appear in the title game. The Mustangs’ went an incredible record of 11-1 (8-0) in the ACC in just their first season in the ACC. They will face the last ACC team to play in the College Football Playoff, the Clemson Tigers. The Tigers come off of a 17-14 loss against instate rival South Carolina. Despite this loss bringing Dabo Swinney’s team to three on the season, a win in the ACC title game would mean an automatic bid into the College Football Playoff. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik must play efficient football without turning the ball over to SMU. Veteran tailback Phil Mafah will look to improve on his 1,078 yards and 8 touchdowns so far on the season while leading receiver Antonio Williams will look to do the same with his 788 yards and 10 touchdowns. The linebacking duo of Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz will look to make SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings’s day tough by getting into the backfield. On the other hand, Jennings will attempt to get the ball down the field to his receiving trio of Roderick Daniels Jr., Key’Shawn Smith, and Jordan Hudson and rely on the skills of tailback Brashard Smith. SMU will beat Clemson and send them to 9-4 entering bowl season.
Projected Score: SMU 34, Clemson 20
