College Football Playoff bracketology: SEC, Big Ten living up to expectations

The race for the College Football Playoff is beginning to take shape as the Bowl Subdivision turns to conference play.

What do we know?

One, that the SEC has so far lived up to expectations. The conference has a deep stable of contenders for the 12-team field, led by Georgia, Texas and Alabama. Two, that the Big Ten should likewise have three or more teams in the playoff. Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State make this week’s cut.

Three, that the competition for the Group of Five’s playoff bid has coalesced around Memphis, now 3-0 after winning at Florida State. And four, that Cam Ward and Miami have risen to the top of the ACC ladder while Utah and Kansas State have stepped up as the Big 12 frontrunners.

Here’s how USA TODAY Sports sees the playoff unfolding heading into Week 4:

Bracketology: Projecting the College Football Playoff field

There are four teams from the SEC in this week’s bracket but several others lurking just outside the 12-team conversation. As expected in the preseason, the conference will have more credible playoff contenders than any other Power Four league.

For now, it’s easier to list the SEC teams that clearly won’t be in the playoff mix or are essentially already eliminated from contention. That would be Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

One team that seems almost certain to drop off the map with the start of the SEC season is Oklahoma, which has remained steady at No. 13 in the US LBM Coaches Poll despite unimpressive wins against Houston and Tulane. The Sooners will host Tennessee this weekend with games ahead against Texas, Mississippi, Missouri and LSU.

That Georgia struggled to put away Kentucky on Saturday night doesn’t necessarily say anything major about the Bulldogs, who are prone to play down to their competition during these early-season…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-playoff-bracketology-sec-110224146.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-17 11:02:24

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