12-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Based on AP Poll

8. Tennessee Volunteers vs. 9. Missouri Tigers

The final first-round playoff matchup pits two SEC teams against each other as Tennessee checks in as the eighth seed and Missouri as the ninth seed. The two would meet in Knoxville, with the winner getting the Texas Longhorns in the second round. Tennessee has been as impressive as any team in the country, and they now open conference play with a road trip to Oklahoma to play the Sooners. Missouri overcame a 14-0 deficit to beat Boston College. The Tigers open SEC play against Vanderbilt before a bye week on September 28.

Week 4: Tennessee (-7) vs. Oklahoma

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2. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten Champion)

The Ohio State Buckeyes received five first-place votes in the AP Poll and landed third (behind Texas and Georgia). Ohio State is the top-ranked Big Ten team, and they grabbed the second seed and a first-round bye. The Buckeyes are 2-0 and are coming off of a bye week. They now host Marshall before entering Big Ten play. Ohio State would play the winner of the seven versus ten game in the second round of the expanded playoff.

Week 4: Ohio State (-39.5) vs. Marshall

3. Miami Hurricanes (ACC Champion)

The third seed goes to the eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes, the top-ranked team in either the ACC or the Big 12. Miami is 3-0 after a convincing win over rival Florida, and then two blowout wins over Florida A&M and Ball State. Given Florida’s lackluster play, it’s fair to question just what Miami has proven, but their schedule doesn’t offer many tests for them to prove themselves moving forward, so expect them to keep on rolling. Miami now plays at South Florida before hosting Virginia Tech on Friday, September 27. The Hurricanes would play the winner of the six versus 11 first-round matchup.

Week 4: Miami (-16.5) vs. South Florida

4. Utah Utes (Big 12 Champion)

The final first-round bye goes to the top-ranked team in the Big 12, the Utah Utes. Utah edges Kansas State as the Utes are ranked 12th, and the Wildcats are 13th in the AP Poll. Much of Utah’s fate will be determined by the health of quarterback Cam Rising. Rising injured his hand in Week 2 and sat out during their Week 3 win over Utah State. If Rising is not healthy moving forward, Utah will not have the offensive firepower to beat teams like Kansas State or UCF, but for now, Utah is the highest-ranked Big 12 team. They would play the winner of the five versus 12 game.

Week 4: Utah (-1.5) vs. Oklahoma State

5. Georgia Bulldogs vs. 12. Northern Illinois Huskies

The Texas Longhorns edged out the Georgia Bulldogs in the AP Poll, which drops them to the five-seed in this projected playoff bracket. Georgia survived an offensive struggle against Kentucky and remains unbeaten heading into a bye week. After the week off, they travel to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama in a top-five clash. The Bulldogs would host the top-ranked Group of Five team. In the Coaches Poll, that team is Memphis. In the AP Poll, the Northern Illinois Huskies are the only G5 team in the poll, and they check in at No. 23. The Huskies are 2-0 after a blowout of Western Illinois and a stunning upset at Notre Dame. They would be enormous underdogs for a game in Athens, and the winner would play Utah in the second round.

6. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. 11. Penn State Nittany Lions

The fourth-ranked team in the AP Poll is the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide were dominant in a win at Wisconsin and are slotted in as the six-seed in the College Football Playoff bracket. Alabama has a bye week before hosting the Georgia Bulldogs on September 28. The Crimson Tide would host the Penn State Nittany Lions in Tuscaloosa. Penn State is 2-0 after a bye week. The Nittany Lions beat Bowling Green but were unimpressive on defense, and there are concerns in State College about what that unit will do against a strong attack. Penn State hosts an overmatched Kent State squad this Saturday and will play Illinois in primetime on September 28.

Week 4: Penn State (-48.5) vs. Kent State

7. Ole Miss Rebels vs. 10. Oregon Ducks

Six of the top seven teams in the AP Poll are in the SEC, and the Ole Miss Rebels slot in at No. 5 and as the seven-seed in the projected College Football Playoff bracket. The Rebels are 3-0, have not surrendered a touchdown, and have scored at least 40 points in each of the three wins. They have not been tested but have done what is expected against undermanned opponents. The Rebels would host the Oregon Ducks in round one of this projected bracket. The Ducks are 3-0, and their performance against the Oregon State Beavers was extremely promising after two underwhelming wins to open the season. The Ducks looked better on the offensive line, and Dillon Gabriel found his rhythm on offense. They now get a bye week before entering Big Ten play.

8. Tennessee Volunteers vs. 9. Missouri Tigers

The final first-round playoff matchup pits two SEC teams against each other as Tennessee checks in as the eighth seed and Missouri as the ninth seed. The two would meet in Knoxville, with the winner getting the Texas Longhorns in the second round. Tennessee has been as impressive as any team in the country, and they now open conference play with a road trip to Oklahoma to play the Sooners. Missouri overcame a 14-0 deficit to beat Boston College. The Tigers open SEC play against Vanderbilt before a bye week on September 28.

Week 4: Tennessee (-7) vs. Oklahoma

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