2024 College Football Playoff bracket: What Week 4’s rankings could look like as SEC, Big Ten fill up the field
There is a new No. 1 on this week’s School Soccer Playoff rankings projection after Georgia’s smash-mouth win at Kentucky eliminated a few of the shine from the Bulldogs. Texas pulled forward within the Related Press Prime 25 rankings after Arch Manning made a press release that the Longhorns are impervious to a Quinn Ewers harm.
Steve Sarkisian’s squad is one among six SEC groups at present headlining the highest 10, whereas Notre Dame’s 66-point explosion at Purdue strengthened unbeaten NIU’s win over the Combating Irish earlier this month. The Huskies have leaped Texas State because the projected Group of 5 consultant on the No. 12 spot, with Texas, Ohio State (Large Ten), Miami (ACC) and Kansas State (Large 12) representing the opposite computerized entries.
If the season ended right this moment, the CFP choice committee would lean towards the SEC and Large Ten for his or her seven at-large choices. Energy of schedule trumps all, there. Except Clemson wins out or any of the six remaining ACC unbeatens not named Miami proceed successful, that is possible going to be a one-bid league. The identical goes for the Large 12, which is rooting towards Notre Dame (2-1) in hopes of getting a number of playoff entries.
Projected CFP Rankings
1. Texas
SEC champion
The harm to Quinn Ewers isn’t transferring the Longhorns off the highest spot, not after what transpired when he left Saturday’s blowout win over UTSA. Second-teamer Arch Manning accounted for 5 touchdowns, together with a 67-yard gallop that was the longest scoring run by a freshman quarterback at Texas since Vince Younger’s magic practically 20 years in the past. Texas is clicking proper now throughout all three phases of the sport and has the nation’s finest win in its again pocket at Michigan with the league slate approaching.
2. Ohio State
Large Ten champion
One of the oft-chosen title sport contributors, Ohio State whizzed by its first two opponents with little combat from the opposition after which loved a Week 3 bye. Switch quarterback Will Howard appears to be settling in along with his new offense and true freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith already appears like a future first-rounder. Like Georgia, Ohio State’s vet-laden protection appears the half. The Buckeyes shall be examined within the coming weeks throughout Large Ten play, however they’re the clear-cut favourite on the prime of the convention at this level.
3. Miami
ACC champion
Cam Ward continues to mild it up for the Hurricanes. The switch quarterback torched Florida within the Swamp with a number of elite throws and had 5 touchdowns in Saturday’s 62-0 drubbing of Ball State. And Miami’s personnel-rich protection ought to run via the remainder of the ACC slate, which will not embrace Clemson through the common season. The ACC Championship possible goes via Coral Gables, which suggests the Hurricanes could possibly be sitting awfully fairly with a bye.
4. Kansas State
Large 12 champion
Count on the projected winner of this convention to alter by the week. After Kansas State’s spectacular beatdown of Arizona, Chris Klieman’s crew is now within the No. 4 spot, changing Iowa State. Utah has questions proper now surrounding Cam Rising’s hand harm and the Utes battle Oklahoma State on the highway this weekend. Kansas State entertains the Cowboys in Manhattan later this month.
5. Georgia
Georgia’s 13-12 win over Kentucky, whereas notable for the reason that Bulldogs performed their “D” sport and nonetheless managed to tug out a convention victory on the highway, was not a needle-mover. This isn’t an overreaction. There’s potential fear offensively that this crew could not have the firepower round quarterback Carson Beck that almost all assumed they’d and the Bulldogs’ offensive line was pushed round by a crew that was coming off a 25-point dwelling loss to South Carolina. Georgia is elite, very good on protection and ranked No. 2 within the polls, however there’s work to do.
6. Ole Miss
Ole Miss impressed for the third-straight sport, a lot in order that Wake Forest refused to play the ultimate sport in an settlement with the Rebels. That is proper, the Demon Deacons purchased out their 2025 matchup with Lane Kiffin’s program in Oxford, which speaks to have far the Rebels have come as one of many nation’s new powers. Ole Miss is one among solely two groups nationally that has not allowed a landing but this season.
7. Oregon
Oregon is not main any early-season magnificence contests nationally, however stomping arch rival Oregon State in Corvallis proved a much-needed level — the Geese are nonetheless worthy of heightened preseason benefit. After failing to look the half in wins over Idaho and Boise State, Oregon’s expertise confirmed out on the highway and for the primary time this fall, Dan Lanning’s crew managed the road of scrimmage with superiority.
8. Tennessee
Reminder — Kent State is an FBS crew and Tennessee had 65 factors by halftime of its Week 3 obliteration of the Golden Flashes. You are not going to discover a crew nationally that is slotted exterior the elite tier in their very own convention after the third week of the season that is as high quality throughout the board because the Vols. Saturday’s showdown at Oklahoma is one among Week 4’s prime video games.
9. Penn State
James Franklin needs his crew to play with extra consistency on either side, and the excellent news is Kent State involves city this weekend coming off a 71-point loss to Tennessee. That is a disastrous crew proper now and the Nittany Lions, contemporary off a bye, will slaughter them. The larger take a look at comes on the finish of the month when unbeaten Illinois — and its mammoth offensive line 00 makes the journey to Glad Valley.
10. Alabama
Wisconsin was purported to problem Alabama at Camp Randall, however Saturday’s blowout win seemed much like each crushing victory over a ranked opponent the Crimson Tide managed beneath earlier coach Nick Saban’s tenure — an intensive beatdown. Badgers coach Luke Fickell mentioned as a lot after watching his crew get owned on the line of scrimmage. Jalen Milroe is accountable for a league-leading 14 touchdowns to this point and hasn’t thrown an interception but.
11. USC
Off the board as a title contender earlier than the season, a 2-0 begin modified the outlook for the Trojans beneath third-year coach Lincoln Riley. Defensively, USC appears like a special program. The Trojans are flying to the soccer and their measurement and total mass up entrance is spectacular. The season-opening win over LSU was surprising and Saturday’s matchup at Michigan is one other alternative to point out huge enhancements that have been made within the offseason. That regular-season finale towards Notre Dame could resolve a playoff spot.
12. Northern Illinois
If Notre Dame retains successful, NIU’s win over the Combating Irish shall be enhanced. The upcoming journey to ACC foe NC State appears extra advantageous now for the reason that Wolfpack have questions up entrance and are transferring to a freshman starter at quarterback. It issues little to NIU how good NC State is — the Huskies simply must win, as a result of there will not be a greater Group of 5 win all season than what they did at Notre Dame. There’s strain transferring ahead on the Huskies, nevertheless. They’re marked. Unbeaten Memphis and UNLV are within the Group of 5 combine right here, together with Liberty and Boise State.
Projected CFP first-round video games
- (12) Northern Illinois at (5) Georgia — Winner performs (4) Kansas State
- (9) Penn State at (8) Tennessee — Winner performs (1) Texas
- (11) USC at (6) Ole Miss — Winner performs (3) Miami
- (10) Alabama at (7) Oregon — Winner performs (2) Ohio State
Opening-round matchups at campus websites based mostly on this Week 4 projection options Northern Illinois at Georgia, USC at Ole Miss, Alabama at Oregon and Penn State at Tennessee. That will give the SEC three first-round dwelling video games amongst its 5 complete playoff groups. The sexiest opening-round contest right here is Alabama making the trek throughout the nation to Autzen Stadium. Kalen DeBoer vs. Lanning sounds acquainted, does not?
Winners of these 4 video games would transfer on to the School Soccer Playoff quarterfinals at bowl websites together with the Fiesta (Dec. 31), Rose (Jan. 1), Sugar (Jan. 1) and Peach (Jan. 1). Amongst notable tie-ins within the expanded playoff, the Sugar Bowl routinely will get the highest-ranked SEC or Large 12 crew within the quarters, so top-seeded Texas can be enjoying in New Orleans.
Group of 5 race extensive open
The preliminary rankings launch stays a number of weeks away, however keeping track of the Group of 5’s remaining unbeaten is an effective place to start out. Because it stands, AP voters have solely present Group of 5 respect to NIU, the one program within the rankings at No. 22 this week. Memphis (77 votes) is shut after dispatching winless Florida State, as is UNLV (54) following its highway win at Kansas.
Boise State-UNLV will mark a playoff elimination sport of kinds in late October so long as the Broncos and Runnin’ Rebels maintain successful. Barry Odom’s crew is open this week earlier than enjoying Fresno State, Syracuse, Utah State and Oregon State previous to the Broncos. That is a handful of 50-50 video games earlier than the one we have circled.
Convention USA favourite Liberty, who went unbeaten through the common season final fall beneath Jamey Chadwell, has one of many best schedules within the nation, so a 13-0 end — and assist — and not using a ranked win is probably going the one state of affairs that will put the Flames within the dialog.
Transferring ahead on the bubble
Tennessee-Oklahoma, Utah-Oklahoma State and USC-Michigan this weekend will assist to ascertain the hierarchy behind perceived title contenders throughout the SEC, Large 12 and Large Ten. A loss for defending nationwide champion Michigan can be catastrophic towards the Wolverines’ league title and playoff hopes.
No two-loss crew has ever appeared within the playoff, however that can change with enlargement. A number of multi-loss groups inside this Week 4 projection are anticipated from the SEC and Large Ten given the schedule challenges many of those high quality squads will endure. We’re additionally envisioning a number of potential repeat matchups within the playoff, too, given the wealth of elite groups from these two conferences.
Regardless of holding a loss proper now, Clemson and Notre Dame are well-positioned to achieve the playoff by successful out. The Tigers’ solely setback got here to Georgia within the opener whereas the Combating Irish have loads of alternatives coming as much as offset the upset loss to NIU. Whereas subjective, the choice committee would by no means overlook an 11-win Notre Dame crew that will have wins towards Texas A&M, Louisville and USC. Talking of the Aggies, they’re one among a number of SEC groups exterior of the present prime 10 accountable for their very own future as properly, becoming a member of Oklahoma and LSU. And let’s not overlook Missouri. After beating then-ranked Boston School over the weekend, the Tigers have one of the crucial favorable remaining schedules amongst playoff contenders throughout the SEC.