College Football Playoff Rankings Prediction Top 15 Projection
15. Northwestern Wildcats 5-1
Last Week College Football Playoff Ranking: 14
The Case For This Spot: It’s a bit of a holding pattern ranking to keep the Wildcats in the top 15, but the 29-20 loss to Michigan State looks a whole lot worse now after the Spartans were blown out by Ohio State. The wins over Iowa and Wisconsin keep the Big Ten East champs in the top 15.
Up Next: Illinois
14. USC Trojans 4-0
Last Week College Football Playoff Ranking: 20
The Case For This Spot: The Trojans came up with the performance everyone was waiting to see. The first three games were okay, and it took too much work to get by Arizona and Arizona State, but the first quarter against Washington State was breathtaking. The Trojans will be the high-rising story among the Power Five teams.
Up Next: at UCLA
13. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 10-0
Last Week College Football Playoff Ranking: 18
The Case For This Spot: The ten wins are impressive, but handing Louisiana and BYU their only losses of the season – and with the win over Appalachian State, and the win over Kansas, and with five of its last seven wins over teams that will finish with a winning record, the committee will give the Chanticleers a massive boost.
Up Next: at Troy
12. Oklahoma Sooners 7-2
Last Week College Football Playoff Ranking: 11
The Case For This Spot: It would be nice to see just a little bit more. Yeah, there were blowout wins over bad teams, but the 27-14 win over Baylor was a bit too much of a struggle. The ranking, though, doesn’t matter – the Sooners aren’t in the hunt for the playoff. They’ll go to a New Year’s Six game with a Big 12 Championship win, and won’t if they lose.
Up Next: at West Virginia
11. Georgia Bulldogs 6-2
Last Week College Football Playoff Ranking: 8
The Case For This Spot: The big thing on the Georgia resumé is that it lost to Alabama and Florida. There aren’t an amazing wins – Auburn is as close as it gets – but the team really is good, it’s better now with JT Daniels at quarterback, and it’ll go to a New Year’s Six game if it beats Missouri and Vanderbilt.
Up Next: at Missouri
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