2024 college football playoff – Syndication Server

Where’s Texas A&M in latest College Football Playoff bracket? Full playoff picture

Texas A&M comes in at No. 15 in the newest CFP Rankings reveal

Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1 SEC) will head to Alabama to face the Auburn Tigers (4-6, 1-5 SEC) in a must-win situation before hosting Texas for one of the most important season finales in Aggie Football history unless A&M falls on Saturday night.

The definition of “trap game” head coach Mike Elko’s brief slip-up on Monday shouldn’t take away from the Aggies’ focus on the Tigers, knowing that their SEC Title and College Football Playoff dreams are still in front of them win two more victories. Still, Saturday night is the primary focus until further notice.

“This year, if we handle our business the way we can and the way we’re supposed to, we don’t need help from anybody. … You don’t feel that from the kids. The kids are just excited to be playing for something meaningful down the stretch.”

However, starting quarterback Marcel Reed will need to hit his open receivers, while running back Amari Daniels will likely take on his largest snap count of the season with Le’von Moss out for the year.

Defensively, limiting Tigers running back Jarquez Hunter and keeping quarterback Payton Thorne in the pocket is key to limiting explosive plays.

On Sunday, Texas A&M stayed at No. 15 in the newest AP Top 25 rankings. Based on last week’s ranking, Tuesday’s College Football Playoff reveal would likely match the Aggies’ newest ranking, as their playoff hopes are still in decent shape ahead of the game.

Here is everything you need to know after the first CFP Playoff reveal:

College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out:

12-seed BYU vs. 5-seed Ohio State: Winner plays 4-seed Boise State
8-seed Notre Dame vs. 9-seed Alabama: Winner plays 1-seed Oregon
11-seed Georgia vs. 6-seed Penn State: Winner plays 3-seed Miami
10-seed Ole Miss vs. 7-seed Indiana: Winner plays 2-seed Texas

Latest CFP rankings:

Oregon (11-0)
Ohio State (9-1)
Texas (9-1)
Penn State (9-1)
Indiana (10-0)
Notre Dame (9-1)
Alabama (8-2)
Miami (9-1)
Ole Miss (8-2)
Georgia (8-2)
Tennessee (8-2)
Boise State (9-1)
SMU (9-1)
BYU (9-1)
Texas A&M (8-2)
Colorado (8-2)
Clemson (8-2)
South Carolina (7-3)
Army (9-0)
Tulane (9-2)
Arizona State (8-2)
Iowa State (8-2)
Missouri (7-3)
UNLV (8-2)
Illinois (7-3)

Texas A&M’s projected CFP opponent

Texas A&M stayed at No. 15, which is unsurprising after defeating a no 2-8 New Mexico State team that didn’t move the needle this week. However, I believe the Aggies would be favored over No. 14 BYU and No. 13 SMU. Head coach Mike Elko and his team are focused on winning the final two regular season games and clinching a spot in the SEC Title game.

How many teams are in College Football Playoff 2024?

For the first time, 12 teams will participate in the College Football Playoffs. Five automatic bids will go to each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots will go to the seven at-large teams.

When next College Football Playoff rankings come out

Tuesday, Nov. 12: 8:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 19: 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Dec. 3: 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 8: Noon ET

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M has CFP potential, but there’s work to be done

Texas A&M is perfectly positioned to make a run to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff

Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) will host New Mexico State on Saturday night. This game looks like a “get right” game for a team that needs to show that the 44-20 loss to South Carolina was a learning moment for a team still on the cusp of making the College Football Playoff.

However, after being ranked 15th in the latest CFP rankings, it looks like the selection committee is basing teams like No. 3 Texas on the “eye test” rather than comparing resumes, as the Longhorns’ best win was against Vanderbilt on the road.

Either way, the message is clear for head coach Mike Elko and his team: Win out, and a playoff spot, including a spot in the SEC Championship Game, is up for grabs. Can the Aggies defeat New Mexico State, Auburn (on the road), and Texas, who could enter as the No. 1 ranked team inside a packed Kyle Field on Nov. 30?

The answer is up to the young men in uniform, as Elko recently discussed the team’s playoff potential before hosting the Aggies on Saturday night:

“We have to stay focused on the now, we have to stay focused on what’s right in front of our face, and we have to go out there and do the best that we can do to go up against New Mexico State.”

While focusing on the task at hand is the right idea, the Aggies need to prove that the loss to South Carolina won’t define them on the road in tough environments.

Still, Elko and his staff deserve the benefit of the doubt after ending A&M’s SEC road losing streak earlier this year.

Overall, the Aggies have proven themselves as playoff contenders after building an impressive resume, including two top-10 wins over Missouri and LSU. Elko also noted that his team is beginning to truly understand the Championship mindset needed to accomplish their remaining goals.

“Our kids are starting to understand what it takes, and now we have to go out and start doing it on a daily basis.”

No. 15 Texas A&M will host New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 16. The game will air on SEC Network at 6:45 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Where’s Texas A&M in latest College Football Playoff bracket? Full playoff picture

Texas A&M comes in at No. 15 in the newest CFP Rankings reveal

Texas A&M’s Week 11 bye week was (hopefully) successful in terms of fixing the issues that plagued the Aggies, especially the defensive issues that led to 25 missed tackles in the 44-20 loss to South Carolina, which dropped the Aggies to No. 14 in the first College Football Playoff rankings reveal.

On Monday, head coach Mike Elko discussed the plan to replace star running back Le’Veon Moss’s snaps. Junior back Amari Daniels will take over as the starter, while senior EJ Smith will become the primary backup, significantly increasing his snap count.

“What we’ve got to do is figure out how to replace Le’Veon (Moss) and all of his carries and all of his yards.”

“Here’s what we have now. How are we effectively going to move the football? … It’s about utilization of personnel.”

Yes, utilizing and effectively managing the two remaining scholarship running backs is key, but this all puts added pressure on OC Collin Klein and quarterback Marcel Reed to get the passing game going to prevent the offense from becoming dimensional and, worse, predictable.

Staying at No. 15 in the latest AP Top 25, Tuesday’s College Football Playoff reveal would likely match the Aggie’s newest ranking, as their playoff hopes are still in decent shape despite the loss.

If Texas A&M can defeat New Mexico State and Auburn before hosting Texas on Nov. 30, the playoff spot for both programs could be on the line.

Here is everything you need to know after the first CFP Playoff reveal:

College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out:

12-seed Boise State vs. 2-seed Ohio State: Winner plays 9-seed Miami
8-seed Notre Dame vs. 7-seed Tennessee: Winner plays 1-seed Oregon
11-seed Ole Miss vs. 4-seed Penn State: Winner plays 6-seed BYU
10-seed Alabama vs. 5-seed Indiana: Winner plays 2-seed Texas

Latest CFP rankings:

Oregon (10-0)
Ohio State (8-1)
Texas (8-1)
Penn State (8-1)
Indiana (10-0)
BYU (9-0)
Tennessee (8-1)
Notre Dame (8-1)
Miami (9-1)
Alabama (7-2)
Ole Miss (8-2)
Georgia (7-2)
Boise State (8-1)
SMU (9-1)
Texas A&M (7-2)
Kansas State (7-2)
Colorado (7-2)
Washington State (8-1)
Louisville (6-3)
Clemson (7-2)
South Carolina (6-3)
LSU (6-3)
Missouri (7-2)
Army (9-0)
Tulane (8-2)

Texas A&M’s projected CFP opponent

Texas A&M is out of the mix at No. 15 in the newest rankings compared to being the second team out below SMU at No. 14 last week. However, the Aggies win their final three games, head coach Mike Elko and his team are shoo-ins for the SEC Championship Game and a chance for an automatic bid to the CFP.

How many teams are in College Football Playoff 2024?

When next College Football Playoff rankings come out

Tuesday, Nov. 12: 8:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 19: 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Dec. 3: 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 8: Noon ET

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Where’s Texas A&M in latest College Football Playoff bracket? Full playoff picture

Texas A&M is ranked No. 14 and the second team out in the first College Football Playoff reveal

Texas A&M’s 2024 season hit a snag on the road during the Aggies’ Week 10 road test vs. South Carolina, looking lifeless in the second half after being tied 20-20 before falling 44-20 in the most lopsided defeat of the season.

Head coach Mike Elko was adamant this week about the issues that plagued the Aggies throughout the season, mainly the poor tackling that resulted in a season-high 25 missed tackles.

However, nothing matched the horrible news that star running back Le’Veon Moss will miss the rest of the regular season after sustaining a knee injury against the Gamecocks. In his place for the rest of the year, junior back Amari Daniels and senior EJ Smith will have to take on the load.

Dropping to No. 15 in the latest AP Top 25, Tuesday’s College Football Playoff reveal would likely match up the Aggie’s newest ranking, as their playoff hopes are still in decent shape despite the loss.

If Texas A&M can defeat New Mexico State and Auburn before hosting Texas on Nov. 30, the playoff spot for both programs could be on the line.

Here is everything you need to know after the first CFP Playoff reveal:

College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out

No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 12 Boise State: Winner faces No. 4 BYU
No. 8 Tennessee vs. No. 9 Indiana: Winner faces No. 1 Oregon
No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Alabama: Winner faces No. 3 Miami (FL)
No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 10 Notre Dame: Winner faces No. 2 Georgia

Latest CFP rankings

Oregon (9-0)
Ohio State (7-1)
Georgia (7-1)
Miami (9-0)
Texas (7-1)
Penn State (7-1)
Tennessee (7-1)
Indiana (9-0)
BYU (8-0)
Notre Dame (7-1)
Alabama (6-2)
Boise State (7-1)
SMU (8-1)
Texas A&M (7-2)
LSU (6-2)
Ole Miss (7-2)
Iowa State (7-1)
Pittsburgh (7-1)
Kansas State (7-2)
Colorado (6-2)
Washington State (7-1)
Louisville (6-3)
Clemson (6-2)
Missouri (6-2)
Army (8-0)

Texas A&M’s projected CFP opponent

Texas A&M comes in at No. 14, and the second team out below the first team, No. 13 SMU. If the Aggies win their final three games, they are almost guaranteed a playoff spot based on the current projections. However, nothing is set in stone.

How many teams are in College Football Playoff 2024?

When next College Football Playoff rankings come out

Tuesday, Nov. 12: 8:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 19: 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Dec. 3: 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 8: Noon ET

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

What does Northern Illinois loss mean for Notre Dame?

Notre Dame probably would’ve been better off with an NIU win Saturday.

Just two weeks after coming into South Bend and beating Notre Dame in what might be the biggest upset of the 2024 college football season, the No. 23 Northern Illinois Huskies lost to Buffalo, 23-20, in overtime. At home.

This loss could have implications for Notre Dame’s playoff chances, though with just four games played, there’s still much more to figure out.

Almost every pundit and observer thought that not only would Notre Dame beat the Huskies, but the Irish would do it handily. We all know what happened next: Notre Dame lost 16-14.

The questions being asked after that game were these: Is NIU that good? Is Notre Dame overrated? Did Notre Dame simply have a bad day, perhaps by overlooking an underdog opponent?

Those questions remain unanswered. Northern Illinois jumped into the rankings after beating Notre Dame but also had the following week off. It’s too early to tell if a close loss to Buffalo means NIU isn’t as good as people thought. Neither does it help us determine if NIU is a playoff contender or if Notre Dame had a bad day — or both.

The following weeks will bring answers.

What does the NIU loss to Buffalo mean for Notre Dame? — Northern Illinois Huskies kicker Kanon Woodill kicks the game winning field goal in the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

It would probably be good for Notre Dame if the Huskies are a true contender since it makes the loss to NIU look worse in the eye of any playoff decision-makers. Because the Irish are independent, they have no chance at an automatic bid via a conference championship.

While the Irish were considered, at the season’s start, as a possible playoff entrant with 1 or 2 losses, that depended on whom they lost to. Before the season kicked off, most observers would’ve excused an Irish loss to Florida State, USC or maybe Louisville. However, the conventional thinking since the loss to NIU is that Notre Dame will need to run the table to qualify for the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame, for its part, hasn’t answered questions, either. The 66-7 drubbing of Purdue wasn’t particularly surprising, and the Irish once again started slowly at home against a Mid-American Conference team on Saturday, though this time they pulled away to beat Miami of Ohio.

There are other teams factoring into this equation. Florida State looks bad, so a win against the Seminoles no longer looks impressive. USC fell to Michigan on Saturday. Other upsets could happen, leaving a bunch of top 20 teams with one or two losses at season’s end.

Still, the NIU loss to Buffalo will likely hurt Notre Dame by making its loss to the Huskies look worse — unless NIU has a strong run to the finish line.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Marcus Freeman said Notre Dame believed the hype

Can’t let a good win get to your head

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN earlier this week that the Fighting Irish fell to Northern Illinois in a massive upset because his team believed the hype it generated after a tough win at Texas A&M.

This author had that same thought the instant NIU blocked a second Mitch Jeter field-goal attempt to seal the Huskies’ win.

After beating the Aggies in a hostile environment on the road in the season opener, Notre Dame was being penciled in for a home game in the first round of the College Football Playoff. College players are human and can’t fully isolate themselves from media, whether it’s the news media or social media.

Not only that, but this Notre Dame squad has some relatively inexperienced players at key positions. That’s a recipe for players to start believing that they’ll roll out of bed and win, especially against an unheralded team like NIU.

It’s also a recipe for the Irish to underestimate an opponent. The Huskies might be a contender for the MAC championship — they are now ranked in the AP Top 25 after beating Notre Dame.

Marcus Freeman knows Notre Dame believed the hype. — Sep 7, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman walks to the sideline in the second quarter against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

“This is the first time in my three years as a head coach that we have won the big game early in the season,” Freeman said. “Two losses to Ohio State and then all of a sudden, we win and everybody says, ‘Hey, you’re going to the playoff. You’ve got an easy schedule.’ We all hear it, and I think we started to believe that.”

“There is a physical approach to preparing for a game, and I think physically we prepared the right way,” he said, “but there’s also a mental approach and a mindset that you have to have every single week, and I think that’s where we failed.”

It’s good that Freeman is aware of the problem and the part it played in one of the worst losses in program history. Now it has to get fixed — or Notre Dame will find itself outside the playoff looking in. And Freeman might find himself unemployed.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Does this College Football Playoff prediction have Notre Dame slotted correctly?

Notre Dame’s big win is leading analysts to suggest the Irish will have a good playoff seed.

Only one game has been played, but Notre Dame’s statement win at Texas A&M has the pundits and College Football Playoff bracketologists giving the Fighting Irish high marks.

On3 Sports’ Andy Staples has the Irish getting a five seed and playing UNLV in the CFP.

Notre Dame will never be able to get a better seed under this current format. Since the Irish are independent they can’t play in a conference championship game, and the top four seeds go to conference champions.

Staples believes that the growth shown by a young offensive line combined with a talented, experienced defense will set the Irish up for a shot at running the table.

The schedule certainly looks favorable right now, especially as Florida State struggles — the Seminoles were supposed to be the biggest challenge on the slate. That said, Louisville did beat the Irish last year and is currently in the top 25, and Georgia Tech, which beat Florida State, has snuck into the rankings. Long-time rival USC beat LSU this weekend and lurks just outside the top 10.

Florida State could rebound, too.

On the other hand, the Irish are home against Louisville and Florida State.

Things can — and will — change from week to week. But for now, at least one analyst is giving the Irish a good shot at the fifth seed.

https://twitter.com/on3sports/status/1830622359423692995?s=46&t=NKxhO50JTypMTJmFyBYfiQ

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Mapping out Texas A&M’s realistic path to the College Football Playoff

Texas A&M’s 2024 his schedule is much more manageable compared to previous seasons

Texas A&M’s 2024 season begins with a marquee matchup vs. 7th-ranked Notre Dame, who will travel to what could be a sold-out Kyle Field for a Saturday night showdown.

Even though the Aggies have yet to take the field, it’s clear that first-year head coach Mike Elko has inherited a talented roster while adding more key pieces on offense and defense through the transfer portal this offseason.

The question remains: is this team good enough on paper to earn a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff? Results this season will provide that answer, but until then, let’s go through the hurdles the Aggies will have to endure before facing the Texas Longhorns to end the regular season.

The first six games are pivotal.

While defeating Notre Dame to open the season isn’t an absolute “must win,” finishing the first six games with a 6-0 or 5-1 record before facing Missouri on Oct. 7 is borderline mandatory, with tough road games against Mississippi State and Auburn looming. Within that stretch, the Aggies will travel to Florida for a Week 3 showdown in the swamp, which looks like anyone’s game on paper.

Texas A&M will need to secure two out of four SEC road games.

While the schedule is somewhat manageable compared to past seasons, remember that the program has not won a road SEC matchup since the 2021 season against Missouri.

Florida looks like a toss-up, but if A&M can get rolling on offense and stay hot heading into October, the Aggies will likely be favored on the road vs. Mississippi State and South Carolina. If A&M can secure both victories, losses to Florida and Auburn shouldn’t hurt playoff positioning.

The Lone Star Showdown could decide A&M’s playoff fate.

While some national media members believe Texas will run through the SEC in the program’s first season, let’s simmer down the hype and focus on realistic expectations. The Longhorn’s schedule is “easy” on paper.

However, SEC football is a whole different kind of challenge, especially in the trenches. This means the Red River Rivalry vs. Oklahoma looks like the Longhorns’ easiest game due to familiarity, outside of hosting lowly Vanderbilt. Also, an early road game to face Michigan and hosting No. 1 Georgia could easily result in two losses.

So, in this scenario, let’s say Texas is 9-2 entering the season finale at Texas A&M, and the Aggies are 8-3, with a final playoff spot on the line. Texas will be favored, but as we’ve witnessed throughout history, this will be anybody’s game.

No. 20 Texas A&M will host No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31, at 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game will air on ABC.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Oregon to host a first-round playoff game in latest CBS projection

According to Jelly Palm of CBS Sports, 6-seed Oregon will host 11-seed Kansas State in the expended playoff format.

It’s hard to imagine a bigger game at Autzen Stadium this season than when No. 2 Ohio State comes to town to play No. 3 Oregon on Oct. 12. That’s assuming those rankings hold in a month into the season.

But according to CBS Sports writer Jerry Palm, an even bigger matchup is projected for Autzen.

Palm has projected the Ducks will be seeded No. 6 in the expanded playoff format and will host 11-seed Kansas State with the winner playing No. 3 Utah in the quarterfinals at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Oregon last played the Wildcats in the 2013 Fiesta Bowl. It’s the only time the two teams have met. That game was highlighted with De’Anthony Thomas returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown and it was all downhill for K-State.

If this prediction comes true, it would be interesting to see the turnout for the Peach Bowl, which would host two teams not in the SEC in the heart of SEC country.

Oregon is no stranger to facing the Utes as Utah turned into somewhat of a rival for the Ducks during their time in the Pac-12. The two teams have clashed and had some classic games, including last season when the Ducks marched into Salt Lake City and crushed then No. 13 Utah 35-6.

But the Utes are favored to in their new conference, the Big XII and with quarterback Cameron Rising returning from injury, Utah would be a formidable foe in what would be one of the better quarterfinal matchups.

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Texas A&M is predicted to make the College Football Playoffs by CBS analyst

One analyst has high expectations for Texas A&M ahead of Mike Elko’s first season

Texas A&M’s 2024 season will start and end in high-profile fashion, hosting Notre Dame to open the season, while the Lone Star Showdown vs. Texas will resume more than a decade after the Longhorns transitioned to the SEC this summer.

This month, progress has been made on both sides of the ball. At the same time, the defense has unsurprisingly taken center stage due to the dangerous pass rush duo of defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart, who are both poised to wreak havoc on most of the quarterbacks they face.

However, under new offensive coordinator Collin Klein, starting quarterback Conner Weigman, who is coming off a season-ending injury after four games last season, has continued to adjust to his scheme, which will feature tight end-heavy sets with more use of running backs in the passing game.

Avoiding Alabama and Ole Miss for the first time since entering the SEC back in 2012, the schedule is challenging but manageable if everything falls in place and the offense can consistently put more points on the board. While the national predictions for Texas A&M vary from 7 to even 10 wins, one analyst is much higher on the Aggie’s playoff chances.

According to CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm, Texas A&M is predicted to make the College Football Playoffs as an 8-seed. The Aggies would face 9-seed Penn State with a chance to face No. 1-seed Georgia in late December.

Just a thought: it’s very interesting how high some analysts are on Texas A&M’s playoff chances compared to those who view this season as a one-off because it is Mike Elko’s first season. However, this roster is too talented not to challenge every team they face every week, so Jerry Palm may be onto something.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.