College football playoff seeding predictions: top 25 projections led by georgia

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When the calendar turns to November, that means it’s time to put away the Halloween costumes and break out the crystal balls. The first College Football Playoff rankings are here, and it’s time to make some fun predictions.

UPDATE: Click or tap here for official college football team rankings

The first of six CFP top 25 reveals will take place at 7pm ET tonight on ESPN (here’s the full schedule; the second ranking is Nov. 8). Before the announcement, here’s a prediction of how the committee might rank its top 25 teams. Please note that these are my predictions and mine alone. I take a look at head-to-head results, strength of schedule, matchups against ranked teams and more to help rank teams as I believe the CFP committee will. You can read the official CFP committee minutes here.

College Football Playoff Ranking Predictions: Top 25 Projections

  1. Georgia (8-0) – We think the non-conference win against Oregon counts a lot, along with overall dominance (mostly Mizzou aside).
  2. Tennessee (8-0) – That 38-point blowout by Kentucky might even propel the Vols into first place. Wins against the Wildcats, LSU’s surge on the road and, yes, Alabama, make a strong case for the No. 1 pick.
  3. Ohio State (8-0) – The Buckeyes were tested for a long time, but OSU still managed a 13-point win against a ranked Penn State team. An improvement from Notre Dame is also helping Ohio State’s case for the top spot.
  4. Michigan (8-0) — The No. 4 spot in the early rankings is perhaps the most interesting, considering it’s a look at what the committee values ​​for that crucial late playoff spot. The Wolverines have just looked good, period, and this Penn State loss stands out.
  5. Clemson (8-0) – The Tigers could have slipped to No. 4, still could, but their wins over Wake Forest and Syracuse don’t look so good after those teams’ Week 9 losses.
  6. TCU (8-0): The Horned Frogs may be the last undefeated team in the poll, but TCU has come a long way since August. Keep winning and wait for the other undefeated teams to fall.
  7. Alabama (7-1) – It would be a shock if the Tide weren’t the top-ranked one-loss team, considering the loss came to Tennessee on the last play of the game. Next comes a key two-game stretch against LSU and Ole Miss.
  8. Oregon (7-1) – The opening loss to UGA was ugly, but the Ducks have looked good since. Much of the remaining schedule isn’t easy, though, starting Nov. 12 against Washington.
  9. UCLA (7-1) – The Bruins didn’t have a hangover after losing to Oregon, taking care of business against Stanford, 38-13. Unless things get weird, UCLA should be 9-1 when it faces rival USC.
  10. Ole Miss (8-1): The Rebels rallied from a 25-point loss to LSU by beating Texas A&M. Ole Miss is still without big wins, but the Rebels do get a visit from Alabama on Nov. 12.
  11. USC (7-1): Caleb Williams’ 411 rushing yards helped the Trojans outscore Arizona 45-37. USC is still looking for a signature win, which could keep them out of the top 10 early on.
  12. Kansas State (6-2): The Wildcats might be the best two-loss team, though there are other contenders for that distinction, including LSU and Utah. But the fresh memory of a 48-0 rout of Oklahoma State was a can’t-miss result.
  13. Illinois (7-1) – Only a three-point loss to Indiana in the second game of the season has kept the Illini off the undefeated list. This defense and running back Chase Brown are a great recipe for success.
  14. LSU (6-2) — The Tigers have an interesting case. There are both losses, but LSU has looked good lately, and it’s been fun to watch. We’ll know more when the Tigers play Alabama on Saturday.
  15. Utah (6-2) — With both losses but a clutch win against USC, the Utes should finish there.
  16. Penn State (6-2) – The Michigan loss wasn’t pretty, but the committee won’t punish the Nittany Lions too much for the Ohio State loss. No ranked wins though.
  17. North Carolina (7-1): The Tar Heels scored the final 28 points to outlast Pitt for their seventh straight win. This is another team that could be ranked in a few places.
  18. Oklahoma State (6-2): The Cowboys had a chance to start in the CFP top 10 because of an ugly 48-0 drubbing of K-State.
  19. Syracuse (6-2) — Back-to-back losses and injuries have hurt the Orange, but Syracuse has three wins against teams with winning records.
  20. Tulane (7-1): The Green Wave loved watching K-State crush Oklahoma State. That 17-10 win on the road in Manhattan, Kansas is a big plus.
  21. Wake Forest (6-2): Expect to find a collection of ACC teams in the second half of the rankings. The Deacons must respond after falling to Louisville in 27.
  22. NC State (6-2) – The Wolfpack might not be here long without QB Devin Leary, but they’ll earn a spot in the starting top 25.
  23. Kentucky (5-3): Three losses in four games isn’t good, but the schedule gets a little easier for a couple of weeks. Then visit Georgia.
  24. Oregon State (6-2): The Beavers have quietly put together a solid resume. They’ve won three in a row, plus the opening win against Boise State only gets better.
  25. Texas (5-3) – There are plenty of other ways the committee could go here. Notre Dame, Liberty, Washington and Florida State, just to name a few.

CFP🏆: College Football Playoff Rankings release schedule

Notable questions from the college football playoff rankings

Could there be a surprise at #1?

Georgia is the defending national champion, beat Oregon by 46 and just beat rival Florida by 22. That doesn’t mean UGA is a lock for No. 1. Finally, Ohio State is challenged on Saturday, but the Buckeyes still beat Penn State by 13 to go with an early win against Notre Dame. But it’s Tennessee that could be the big “shock,” either at No. 1 or No. 2. The Vols have wins against LSU (by 27), Alabama and Kentucky (by 38).

What will the order of the undefeated teams be?

Six unbeaten teams remain. In alphabetical order: Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, TCU and Tennessee. Depending on what you value most, you can find a variety of different ranking orders for these six. But things often work themselves out: Georgia vs. Tennessee this week will have a lot to say, as will Michigan vs. Ohio State in a few weeks.

Wayne Staats is a senior interactive producer for NCAA.com. His work has also appeared in the Augusta Chronicle, augusta.com and Land of 10. He is a graduate of Penn State University.

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