College Football Playoff, bowl projections after Week 9

There weren’t as many shocking outcomes throughout Week 9 as we have grown accustomed to the developments of this season, however some shocking groups continued to make their mark.

Georgia Tech remained unbeaten by thumping Syracuse, Vanderbilt beat Missouri to enhance to 7-1 for its finest begin since 1941, Indiana rolled over UCLA to stake its declare as the perfect crew in faculty soccer, and Navy gained once more, transferring to 7-0.

All 4 of these groups are within the combine for the College Football Playoff, one thing few would have foreseen a few months in the past.

As with final season’s inaugural 12-team CFP, the 5 highest-ranked convention champions, plus the subsequent seven highest-ranked groups, will make the sphere. Unlike final yr, the 4 highest-ranked groups (not essentially convention champions) shall be awarded first-round byes. The different eight groups will meet in first-round video games on the campus websites of seeds Nos. 5 by means of 8.

From there, the quarterfinals and semifinals shall be performed in what had been the New Year’s Six bowls, with the nationwide championship sport scheduled for Jan. 19 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

All of that’s simply the tip of the iceberg, although. Apart from the playoff is the 35-game slate of bowl video games, starting with the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13.

We’re right here for all of it.

ESPN bowl gurus Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are projecting each postseason matchup, together with their breakdowns of how the playoff will play out, and we’ll be again each week of the season till the precise matchups are set.

Jump to a bit:
Playoff picks | Quarterfinals
Semis, title sport | Bowl season

College Football Playoff

First-round video games (at campus websites)

Friday, Dec. 19/Saturday, Dec. 20

Times and networks TBD.

Bonagura: No. 12 Navy at No. 5 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 12 Navy at No. 5 Georgia

Bonagura: No. 11 Texas Tech at No. 6 Georgia
Schlabach: No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 6 Ole Miss

Bonagura: No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Ole Miss
Schlabach: No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Georgia Tech

Bonagura: No. 9 Miami at No. 8 Georgia Tech
Schlabach: No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Miami

First-round breakdown

Bonagura: At 7-0 (5-0 American Conference), Navy deserves a while within the highlight, which is why I’ve the Midshipmen because the No. 12 seed for this week. They have earned it. But the subsequent 5 video games are brutal: at North Texas, at Notre Dame, South Florida, at Memphis, vs. Army. It’s one of the vital tough closing slates for any crew in faculty soccer.

There is a few margin of error alongside the way in which as Tulane (3-0) is the one different unbeaten crew within the American and nobody else within the convention has greater than three league wins. A yr after Army flirted with the playoff, Navy could be very a lot within the combine.

Schlabach: Finally, there was some order in faculty soccer this weekend, as each AP top-10 crew that performed gained, though Alabama, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt needed to rally to get it achieved.

I dropped Oregon three spots to No. 9 after its lackluster 21-7 win over struggling Wisconsin at dwelling. The sport was performed in torrential rain at occasions, and star quarterback Dante Moore left within the third quarter with a face damage. The Ducks must play higher once they journey to Iowa on Nov. 8.

I dropped Texas Tech and added Vanderbilt as my No. 11 crew after the Commodores beat one other ranked opponent, taking down Missouri 17-10 at dwelling. It wasn’t fairly, however Diego Pavia & Co. found out a strategy to get it achieved. The Commodores play at Texas on Saturday.

Unbeaten Navy changed South Florida as my fifth convention champion, after the Bulls fell 34-31 at Memphis on Saturday. But as Kyle famous, the Midshipmen are about to hit the meat of their schedule.

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CFP quarterfinals

Wednesday, Dec. 31

CFP quarterfinal on the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 Indiana
Schlabach: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 4 Alabama

Thursday, Jan. 1

CFP quarterfinal on the Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Alabama
Schlabach: No. 7 Georgia Tech vs. No. 2 Indiana

CFP quarterfinal on the Rose Bowl Game introduced by Prudential
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
4 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 8 Georgia Tech vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 9 Oregon vs. No. 1 Ohio State

CFP quarterfinal on the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 3 Texas A&M
Schlabach: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Texas A&M

Quarterfinals breakdown

Bonagura: With no main upsets close to the highest this week, there have been no modifications right here for me. Three Big Ten groups, 4 SEC groups, plus Georgia Tech within the quarterfinals.

Georgia Tech nonetheless feels very very similar to an unknown relative to the others. The Yellow Jackets have not crushed a ranked crew and will not play one (Georgia) for an additional month earlier than a would-be ACC title sport. The unbeaten report issues, however will probably be fascinating to see how the choice committee slots them when these rankings are launched per week from Tuesday.

Schlabach: My high 5 groups remained unchanged, though I severely thought-about elevating Indiana to No. 1. The Hoosiers steamrolled UCLA 56-6 at dwelling Saturday, piling up 475 yards of offense and forcing three turnovers. The Bruins had been red-hot however could not get something going towards IU.

Texas A&M was equally spectacular in its 49-25 rout of LSU on the highway. Tiger Stadium is likely one of the most tough highway venues within the nation, particularly at evening, however the Aggies did not have any issues. They outscored the Tigers 35-7 after halftime and gained in Baton Rouge for the primary time since 1994.

There could be two SEC vs. SEC matchups in my quarterfinals, together with one Big Ten vs. Big Ten sport. Hopefully, the CFP choice committee would set the seedings to keep away from that, however it should be tough to do if there are 4 or 5 SEC groups and three from the Big Ten within the subject.

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CFP semifinals, nationwide championship sport

Thursday, Jan. 8

CFP semifinal on the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 1 Ohio State

Friday, Jan. 9

CFP semifinal on the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Indiana
Schlabach: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Indiana

Monday, Jan. 19

CFP nationwide championship
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
7:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 1 Ohio State

National championship breakdown

Bonagura: Here we’re on Oct. 26, and Indiana has a powerful case to be the No. 1 crew in faculty soccer. Just because it seemed like UCLA had tapped into one thing particular, the Hoosiers calmly beat the Bruins by 50. These kinds of projections are at all times enjoyable to return and giggle at come playoff time, however two postseason video games between Ohio State and Indiana — the Big Ten title sport and nationwide championship — appear extra possible each week.

Let’s additionally take a minute to acknowledge that it was the right resolution to go away from giving byes to the highest 4 convention champions. It fully threw off the seedings, and a pure seeding course of for all groups, as is the case now, makes way more sense.

Schlabach: I be ok with the Buckeyes and Hoosiers reaching the semifinals with the way in which they’re presently enjoying. But it is anybody’s guess as to who the opposite two groups is likely to be.

Texas A&M has highway video games left at Missouri and Texas, and the Aggies have not been on this place in fairly a while. Marcel Reed needs to be a Heisman Trophy candidate and Mike Elko has achieved a unbelievable job bringing some chew to the protection.

I went with Georgia as my fourth crew, though the Bulldogs must get previous Alabama to achieve the semifinals — and that has hardly ever occurred these days. The Bulldogs have some apparent shortcomings on protection, however with their offensive line getting wholesome, Kirby Smart’s crew goes to have an opportunity to outscore its opponents. Gunner Stockton is enjoying very effectively, and he has loads of weapons round him.

Complete bowl season schedule

Saturday, Dec. 13

Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: Alabama State vs. North Carolina Central
Schlabach: Jackson State vs. Delaware State

LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Washington State vs. Boise State
Schlabach: Washington vs. Boise State

Tuesday, Dec. 16

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: UConn vs. Toledo
Schlabach: Jacksonville State vs. Coastal Carolina

Wednesday, Dec. 17

StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Kennesaw State vs. Temple
Schlabach: Buffalo vs. Marshall

68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
8:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Marshall vs. Western Michigan
Schlabach: Liberty vs. Western Michigan

Friday, Dec. 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Bowling Green vs. Old Dominion
Schlabach: East Carolina vs. James Madison

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: North Texas vs. Florida State
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. Wake Forest

Monday, Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Ohio vs. San Diego State
Schlabach: Ohio vs. Utah State

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Boca Raton Bowl
Flagler Credit Union Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Southern Miss vs. Jacksonville State
Schlabach: Temple vs. Toledo

New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Western Kentucky vs. Troy
Schlabach: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Ford Center at The Star (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Fresno State vs. Baylor
Schlabach: North Texas vs. Kennesaw State

Wednesday, Dec. 24

Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: New Mexico vs. California
Schlabach: Hawai’i vs. Tulane

Friday, Dec. 26

GameAbove Sports Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
1 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Maryland vs. Miami (Ohio)
Schlabach: Maryland vs. Central Michigan

Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: UCF vs. Northwestern
Schlabach: Iowa State vs. Minnesota

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Texas State vs. Central Michigan
Schlabach: San Diego State vs. Miami (Ohio)

Saturday, Dec. 27

Go Bowling Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
11 a.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Clemson vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Clemson vs. South Florida

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: SMU vs. Minnesota
Schlabach: Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern

Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
2:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Wake Forest vs. South Florida
Schlabach: NC State vs. Memphis

Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Virginia vs. Houston
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Cincinnati

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m., CW Network
Bonagura: Buffalo vs. Hawai’i
Schlabach: Washington State vs. Fresno State

Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: UNLV vs. Arizona
Schlabach: New Mexico vs. Arizona

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m. ABC
Bonagura: Notre Dame vs. LSU
Schlabach: Virginia vs. LSU

Kinder’s Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: TCU vs. Oklahoma
Schlabach: Houston vs. Oklahoma

Monday, Dec. 29

JLab Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Memphis vs. James Madison
Schlabach: Troy vs. UConn

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Kansas vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: Kansas vs. Louisiana Tech

Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Nebraska vs. Texas
Schlabach: Illinois vs. Auburn

Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Houston vs. Washington
Schlabach: Texas Tech vs. USC

Wednesday, Dec. 31

ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Illinois vs. Missouri
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Tennessee

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Duke vs. Arizona State
Schlabach: SMU vs. Arizona State

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Michigan vs. Vanderbilt
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Texas

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Iowa vs. Utah
Schlabach: Nebraska vs. California

Friday, Jan. 2

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
1 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. East Carolina
Schlabach: Baylor vs. Army

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Iowa State vs. Auburn
Schlabach: TCU vs. UNLV

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Pitt vs. Tennessee
Schlabach: Duke vs. Missouri

Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
Bonagura: Louisville vs. USC
Schlabach: Notre Dame vs. Utah