In a thrilling Week 11, Texas Tech emerged as a significant player in the College Football Playoff (CFP) race with its victory over BYU, marking the Cougars” first loss of the season. The win solidified Texas Tech”s position as a frontrunner in the Big 12 conference. Meanwhile, both Indiana and Oregon narrowly escaped potential upsets, adding to the excitement of the weekend.
This season”s CFP format allows the top five ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams to enter the playoff. The four highest-ranked teams will receive first-round byes, while the remaining eight will compete in first-round games at the campuses of seeds five through eight. Following those matchups, the quarterfinals and semifinals will take place in the traditional New Year”s Six bowls, culminating in the national championship game scheduled for January 19 at Miami”s Hard Rock Stadium.
The bowl season kicks off with the Cricket Celebration Bowl on December 13. Experts from ESPN, Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach, have been analyzing potential postseason matchups and will continue to provide insights weekly as the season progresses.
First-Round Playoff Predictions
The first-round playoff games are set for December 19 and 20, with matchups including:
- Bonagura: No. 12 North Texas at No. 5 Georgia
- Schlabach: No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Georgia
- Bonagura: No. 11 Georgia Tech at No. 6 Texas Tech
- Schlabach: No. 11 Pittsburgh at No. 6 Ole Miss
- Bonagura: No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Oregon
- Schlabach: No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Texas Tech
- Bonagura: No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Ole Miss
- Schlabach: No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oregon
Quarterfinal Projections
Looking ahead to the quarterfinals scheduled for December 31 and January 1, potential matchups include:
- Bonagura: No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 2 Indiana
- Schlabach: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 4 Alabama
- Bonagura: No. 8 Ole Miss vs. No. 1 Ohio State
- Schlabach: No. 9 Notre Dame vs. No. 1 Ohio State
- Bonagura: No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 3 Texas A&M
- Schlabach: No. 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Texas A&M
As the playoff picture continues to evolve, it has become evident that the upcoming weeks will be crucial for teams vying for both playoff spots and bowl game invitations. With conference races heating up and teams facing must-win scenarios, college football fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to the regular season.
