The Big Ten continues to dominate the top five in all three major rankings ahead of week 13.
The Big Ten’s elite remains on top of the college football world after week 12 of the 2024 college football season.
As programs around the country prepare for week 13 of the season, the Big Ten has four top-five teams in all three major rankings this week.
The Oregon Ducks sitting pretty with an 11-0 record after an upset scare against Wisconsin are the consensus No. 1 team in the rankings while the Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, and Indiana Hoosiers round out a consensus top-five.
The Buckeyes are ranked No. 2 while Penn State and Indiana are ranked No. 4 and No. 5 respectively, the SEC’s Texas Longhorns break up the Big Ten party in the top five at No. 3.
After several weeks of those four programs being the Big Ten’s only representatives, the Illinois Fighting Illini rejoined the rankings in both the College Football Playoffs and Associated Press top-25 this week. No other Big Ten teams were ranked outside the top five in the latest US LBM Coaches poll.
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Every team ranked ahead of Georgia has a worse strength of schedule and a worse strength of record (with the exception of Oregon)
If the season ended today, the Georgia Bulldogs would be the No. 11 seed in the College Football Playoff bracket. Georgia would have to go on the road to play the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions in the first round of the playoff.
The Bulldogs might need some help to get a first-round bye. Georgia is done with SEC play, so the Dawgs must watch how other teams perform over the next couple of weeks to learn their SEC championship fate. Of course, Georgia will have to beat Georgia Tech to make the playoff unless the Bulldogs win the SEC championship.
The selection committee is disrespecting Georgia. The committee ranks Georgia lower than both the AP Poll and the US LBM Coaches Poll. The committee appears to favor win-loss record over everything else including strength of schedule, ranked wins and strength of record.
How many teams ranked ahead of Georgia would have been able to go 8-2 with Georgia’s schedule? Not very many in our estimation. Only the Oregon Ducks have a better strength of record than Georgia. The Bulldogs have the toughest strength of schedule in the country.
All strength of schedule and strength of record metrics are according to ESPN.
No. 11 Georgia Bulldogs
Brett Patzke-Imagn Images
Record: 8-2
Strength of schedule: No. 1
Strength of record: No. 2
Ranked wins: No. 3 Texas, No. 11 Tennessee, No. 17 Clemson (Note: all ranked wins are based on the playoff rankings and not the playoff seeding)
Losses: No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 7 Alabama
No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels
Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Record: 8-2
Strength of schedule: No. 29
Strength of record: No. 12
Ranked wins: No. 10 Georgia, No. 18 South Carolina
This week, a new SEC team is in that spot. If the playoff started today, the Tennessee Volunteers would miss the cut after their 31-17 loss to Georgia over the weekend at Sanford Stadium.
While the Crimson Tide’s win over a Football Championship Subdivision opponent (Mercer) might seem relatively unimpressive, consider this: Not only did Alabama leap Tennessee and the BYU Cougars after those teams lost, but the Tide also jumped the 9-1 Miami Hurricanes, the highest-ranked ACC team.
Interestingly, one of biggest changes in the rankings was the selection committee showing us what it thought of the Big 12’s lack of a true conference power. After BYU was exposed in a 17-13 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks (4-6), the committee moved Boise State — the highest-ranked Group of Five team and projected Mountain West champion — ahead of the Cougars and, thus, into the No. 4 seed.
As a reminder, playoff rankings and actual seeding are two different things. Miami is the No. 8 team in the committee’s rankings, but they’re the No. 3 seed as the projected ACC champion. And as with last week, SMU may be one of the first teams out in the rankings, but the Mustangs still have a direct path to the ACC title game.
With that out of the way, here’s a look at what the bracket for the 12-team field would look like if the College Football Playoff started today, as well as who Alabama would face.
Projected Conference Champions, First-Round Byes
No. 1 seed: Oregon Ducks
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Oregon College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 1
Oregon Current College Football Playoff Seed: No. 1
Oregon 2024 Record: 11-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten
Barring an upset loss to Washington, Oregon will remain in this spot until at least the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.
No. 2 seed: Texas Longhorns
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Texas College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 3
Texas Current College Football Playoff Seed: No. 2
Texas 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 5-1 SEC
Like last week, Texas is the projected No. 2 seed as the highest-ranked SEC team, though more college football analysts this week are trending in the direction of Alabama taking the conference crown. Part of that is how Texas and Alabama have looked in recent weeks. The Crimson Tide have been on a tear since their 24-17 loss at Tennessee. Texas lost by two scores to Georgia and looked largely uninspiring in a 20-10 win at Arkansas last week.
No. 3 seed: Miami Hurricanes
Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Miami College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 8
Miami Current College Football Playoff Seed: No. 3
Miami 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 5-1 ACC
Miami had a bye in Week 12 and closes the regular season with a home game against Wake Forest and a road trip to Syracuse.
No. 4 seed: Boise State Broncos
Ashton Jeanty runs for a touchdown against San Jose State at CEFCU Stadium. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Boise State College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 12
Boise State Current College Football Playoff Seed: No. 4
Boise State 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 6-0 MWC
Honestly? I think the selection committee got this one right. Can you name one Big 12 team that you’d feel 100% comfortable wagering on to beat Boise State? I can’t, and that’s why I’m fine with Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos surpassing BYU this week.
First Round CFP Matchups
No. 12 BYU Cougars seed at No. 5 seed Ohio State Buckeyes
Quinshon Judkins celebrates his touchdown against Northwestern at Wrigley Field. David Banks-Imagn Images
BYU College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 14
BYU 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 6-1 Big 12
Ohio State College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 2
Ohio State 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten
The Buckeyes remain the highest-ranked at-large seed — and the biggest example of the difference between playoff ranking vs. playoff seeding. Ohio State still has a chance to take the No. 1 overall spot in the rankings when the final 12-team field is announced in December, but it will have to beat two current top five teams to do it.
No. 11 seed Georgia Bulldogs at No. 6 seed Penn State Nittany Lions
Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Georgia College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 10
Georgia 2024 Record: 8-2 overall, 6-2 SEC
Penn State College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 4
Penn State 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten
TV executives, not to mention conference homers, would salivate over this potential matchup between an SEC heavyweight and a Penn State program looking to become one in the Big Ten.
No. 10 seed Ole Miss Rebels at No. 7 seed Indiana Hoosiers
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Ole Miss College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 9
Ole Miss 2024 Record: 8-2 overall, 4-2 SEC
Indiana College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 5
Indiana 2024 Record: 10-0 overall, 7-0 Big Ten
Can Ole Miss avoid the upset bug against a Florida Gators team that suddenly doesn’t seem that bad? Probably, but it’s an early kickoff in Gainesville against a team that just scored its first upset of 2024 and would love to ruin someone’s College Football Playoff hopes.
As for the Hoosiers, Curt Cignetti’s team faces what has to be the biggest game in the history of IU football when it heads to Columbus to face Ohio State. Indiana obviously wants to win, but even a close or competitive loss to the Buckeyes would keep the Hoosiers in the playoff conversation.
Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard celebrate a touchdown againsr Mercer at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images
Alabama College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 7
Alabama 2024 Record: 8-2 overall, 4-2 SEC
Notre Dame College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 6
Notre Dame 2024 Record: 9-1 overall
Last week’s rankings had Alabama on the road in the first round of the Playoff at another Indiana campus (Bloomington). But it would be the Crimson Tide at Notre Dame, if the playoffs began today. In terms of heavyweight college football programs that ooze tradition, this would be an epic matchup for an on-campus playoff game.
Alabama still needs to avoid any calamities at Oklahoma and against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, but the Crimson Tide are well-positioned for a trip to the SEC championship game in Atlanta entering Week 13. Meanwhile, Notre Dame will have to ruin one of college football’s biggest feel-good stories this week by beating an Army team that’s 9-0 and then beat USC at the Coliseum on Nov. 30.
On The Bubble/First Four Out
Josh Heupel walks off the field after Tennessee lost to Georgia 31-17 at Sanford Stadium. Imagn Images
No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (8-2)
No. 13 SMU Mustangs (9-1)
No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies (8-2)
No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes (8-2)
CFP Quarterfinals
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon Ducks vs. 8/9 Winner
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Texas Longhorns vs. 7/10 Winner
Peach Bowl: No. 3 Miami Hurricanes vs. 6/11 Winner
Fiesta Bowl: No. 4 Boise State Broncos vs. 5/12 Winner
Ohio State remained at No. 2 in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings. Here’s a playoff picture for the Buckeyes. #GoBucks
We’re now 12 weeks into the college football season and that means we have an idea of where Ohio State when it comes to the landscape of the 2024 season. The Buckeyes beat Northwestern on the road — in Wrigley Field no less last week and remain right in the thick of things, even after the loss to now No. 1 Oregon a few weeks ago.
Ohio State debuted at No. 2 when the first College Football Playoff rankings were announced a couple of weeks ago, so even another loss would seem to have OSU in good shape with getting an invite to the inaugural 12-team playoff we’re all about to witness at the end of this season. The Buckeyes stayed in that spot last week and now, this week when the latest CFP rankings were announced Tuesday.
The format is an interesting one, and since it’s the first year of all the fun, we thought we break down where Ohio State would be in the playoff bracket if it were to end before any further games are played. This is merely a projection and things will change based on results on the field.
So … here we go.
College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out
First-round byes as conference champion automatic qualifiers
For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoff. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.
When next College Football Playoff rankings come out
Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Dec. 3: 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 8: Noon ET
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Alabama was included in the latest College Football Rankings. Here’s a playoff picture for the Crimson Tide.
Once again, the Alabama Crimson Tide are on the move in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.
After a dominant 52-7 win over the Mercer Bears last Saturday, the Crimson Tide rose yet again Tuesday night in the latest playoff selection committee rankings, moving to No. 7 from No. 10. The Crimson Tide moved up a spot from No. 11 to No. 10 a week ago.
Let’s take a look at the latest playoff rankings release from Tuesday night, as well as what the bracket looks like before Alabama’s road trip to face the Oklahoma Sooners this Saturday.
College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out
This is the latest CFP bracket based on seeding Tuesday night:
First Round Matchups: No. 5 seed Ohio State vs. No. 12 seed BYU (Big 12), No. 6 seed Penn State vs. No. 11 seed Georgia, No. 7 seed Indiana vs. No. 10 seed Ole Miss, No. 8 seed Notre Dame vs. No. 9 seed Alabama
For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoffs. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.
When next College Football Playoff rankings come out
Tennessee will host UTEP on Saturday in Week 13. The nonconference matchup is the final home game for Tennessee in the regular-season at Neyland Stadium.
Below is information regarding the latest College Football Playoff top 25 rankings and bracket projection after Week 12 during the 2024 regular-season.
College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out
Below are the top 12 teams entering Week 12.
Oregon
Ohio State
Texas
Penn State
Indiana
Notre Dame
Alabama
Miami
Ole Miss
Georgia
Tennessee
Boise State
The entire College Football Playoff top 25 rankings can be viewed here.
Tennessee’s projected CFP opponent
Tennessee is ranked No. 11 in the College Football Playoff top 25 rankings and the first team out of the 12-team bracket.
How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?
For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoff. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to seven at-large teams.
When next College Football Playoff rankings come out
Here is where Penn State is ranked in the latest College Football Playoff rankings and who they would face in the first-round.
There were bound to be some changes in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings after BYU and Tennessee each lost this past weekend. But the good news for Penn State is there was no cause for changing the outlook for the Nittany Lions after a comfortable road victory at Purdue. And with all three teams ranked ahead of them winning this past weekend, the top four remained unchanged, which means Penn State continues to be in a good position for a possible first-round home game in Beaver Stadium in late December.
Penn State moved up two posts in the selection committee’s rankings last week, moving from no. 6 to no. 4. That is the same ranking Penn State held this week, which was to be expected given the weekend’s results.
The top 12 teams as of Nov. 19
Here is what the top 12 looks like in the third release of the College Football Playoff rankings this season:
Oregon
Ohio State
Texas
Penn State
Indiana
Notre Dame
Alabama
Miami
Ole Miss
Georgia
Tennessee
Boise State
One interesting note was the inclusion of Illinois at no. 25 this week. The Nittany Lions topped Illinois earlier in the season, which gives Penn State a top-25 win at the moment.
BYU took a harsh tumble, falling eight spots down to no. 14 this week. Colorado is two spots behind the Cougars as the top two teams in the Big 12 at the moment.
If the season ended today, here are the first-round matchups
5. Ohio State vs. 12. BYU (Big 12 leader)
6. Penn State vs. 11. Georgia
7. Indiana vs. 10. Ole Miss
8. Notre Dame vs. 9. Alabama
Three Big Ten teams would get home games in the first round, while three SEC teams would be on the road. Who predicted that as a possibility? Penn State would get a massive test though as they would host Georgia in the current bracket projection. The winner would advance to the quarterfinals to face current ACC leader Miami. Talk about a visit from the ghosts of Penn State national titles past with potential matchups with Georgia and Miami?
Penn State will visit Minnesota this weekend for the final regular season road trip of the year. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Here’s the CFP bracket after the committee’s third rankings.
The College Football Playoff selection committee released its third top-25 rankings of the season ahead of the first 12-team playoff, and unsurprisingly, the Oregon Ducks are still the No. 1 team.
Of course, there are still many games and a couple weeks before the season ends with conference championship weekend, and that means the rankings and playoff picture could change between now and then. After the conference title games, the CFP committee will announce the 12 playoff teams on Selection Sunday on December 8.
Oregon landed 1st in the latest College Football Rankings. Here’s a playoff picture for the Ducks.
The Oregon Ducks did what they needed to do this past week to beat the Wisconsin Badgers on the road and keep their undefeated record intact. It wasn’t pretty, with a 16-13 final, but it was sufficient enough to keep the Ducks on top of the college football world in terms of rankings, as one of only three remaining undefeated teams. Now, Oregon can head into their much-needed bye week and try to get healthy.
Across the nation, we saw some intriguing results, with the undefeated BYU Cougars suffering an upset, while the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Volunteers and got themselves back into the playoff picture.
With the chaos around the league, let’s take a look at who fell out of the playoff rankings, and who moved up after Week 11.
College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out
The loss suffered by BYU last week will be interesting, as the fallout is important. The Committee dropped them to No. 14 in the rankings because of the loss, while they moved the Bulldogs up to No. 10 in the rankings after a win over Tennessee. This is all important to see now while we still have a couple of weeks before the final rankings are released.
With the No. 1 seed, Oregon would be in line for a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. After that, they would play the winner of either No. 6 Notre Dame or No. 7 Alabama.
How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?
For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoffs. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.
When next College Football Playoff rankings come out
2024’s first CFP rankings will offer an early look at the playoff bracket for Ohio State football. Here’s how to watch.
It’s that time of the week again — at least at this point in the college football season. The CFP Rankings are set to be unveiled again on Tuesday, the third reveal of the season.
If you are here, there’s a good chance you are trying to locate when and where to watch these rankings to find out where Ohio State lands after its beatdown of the Northwestern Wildcats in Wrigley Field Saturday.
If so, you are in luck because we have everything you need to know to sit down after a long day of work, grab some food and a beverage of your choice and enter the debate fray on where teams like the Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks, Texas Longhorns, and Penn State Nittany Lions fall.
Sorry, Michigan fans, it’s been a long season for you in 2024. Here’s how to find and watch the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night.
How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show
TV Channel: ESPN
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College Football Playoff rankings release date:
Date: Tuesday, November 19
What time is CFP rankings release?
Start Time: 7 p.m. ET
Ohio State football CFP rankings projection
There’s little doubt on where Ohio State will land. It was ranked No. 2 the last couple of weeks and there’s nothing that has happened to change that since Oregon is still undefeated and likely still No. 1. The Buckeyes haven’t done anything to fall below where they have been over the last couple of weeks.
How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?
For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoffs. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.
How does the College Football Playoff format work?
The top four seeds will be on a bye as the CFP kicks off. The next four highest-seeded teams will host on-campus playoff games as follows:
No. 5 vs No. 12, winner will play No. 4
No. 6 vs No. 11, winner will play No. 3
No. 7 vs No. 10, winner will play No. 2
No. 8 vs No. 9, winner will play No. 1
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
