Three Big Ten squads cracked CBS Sports’ latest College Football Playoff bowl projections for the 2024 season this week.
In the first iteration of the expanded 12-team postseason scenario, Ohio State lands at No. 2, Oregon earns the No. 6 slot and Penn State comes in at No. 9 to represent the Big Ten conference in this forecast. The projection also includes Georgia at No. 1, Utah at No. 3 and Florida State at No. 4.
Unlike in previous seasons, the playoff bowl games this winter will include games between a collection of the four highest-rated teams and the winners of the first-round matchups.
A season ago, Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama would have served as the playoff’s top four and received a first-round bye. The other eight squads will play in a knockout-style, first-round bracket. Plus, the higher-ranked seeds will host the lower-ranked seeds in the first round on campus.
CBS has Penn State squaring off against No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 11 Kansas State Playing Oregon in round one. By virtue of a top-four seed. Ohio State would play the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 10 game.
From @jppalmCBS: Bowl projections: SEC, Big Ten deliver on preseason hype taking half of 12 College Football Playoff slotshttps://t.co/dCrbxOi203
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) August 15, 2024
While Wisconsin is not included in this hierarchy, victories against top-ranked teams such as Alabama, Oregon, Penn State or USC could vault them into playoff consideration.