Notre Dame fighting for home game in latest college football playoff projection

Two of the top ten teams were away this week, while two of the eight in action missed games.

What does Week 8 mean for the College Football Playoffs?

A certain powerhouse program falls out of the latest playoff projection after falling to a conference rival, while a dark horse program from the Midwest has become a viable contender for a playoff spot.

Here’s what our latest College Football Playoff projections look like after another exciting weekend.

Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Jeffrey Ugochukwu (12) celebrates after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 40-35 at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. | Denny Simmons/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Saturday was one of those college football days you remember from a long time ago. Although there didn’t appear to be any real marquee competition, five teams ranked in the top 11 in the Associated Press poll were upset.

No. 1 Alabama lost to Vanderbilt for the first time in 40 years, while previously undefeated Tennessee was defeated at Arkansas. Elsewhere, Missouri, Michigan and USC went on the road and also lost.

So what will the 12-team College Football Playoff look like after an epic Saturday of college football?

Phew, boy, this one is absolute madness.

Just a friendly reminder before we go any further – this is based on what I think will happen combined with what has already happened this college football season.

The biggest play comes from Georgia, which beat Texas on the road and became the favorite to win the SEC. Ohio State moved up a spot from last week as I still have the Buckeyes winning the Big Ten despite falling at Oregon.

1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Iowa State
4. Clemson

Who appears in this second group of teams? After falling at Vanderbilt two weeks ago and flirting with danger against South Carolina last week, Alabama fell on the road to Tennessee. As a result, the Crimson Tide missed out on the playoffs in our projection.

5. Oregon
6.Miami
7. State of Pennsylvania
8. Texas

There is a logjam of teams with reasonable paths to the College Football Playoff as we complete eight weeks. So who are the last to enter the first 12-team College Football Playoff?

Believe it or not, the first two states to have two teams in the same College Football Playoff will be Texas and…Indiana.

At least as things stand this week, following the 56-7 dismantling of Nebraska by the 7-0 Hoosiers.

9. Notre Dame
10. Indiana
11. Texas A&M
12. Boise State

It’s incredibly congested here. Texas A&M will host LSU next week, giving them a slight edge over the Tigers currently, but that could change in a heartbeat. Alabama is two-loss, while one-loss Tennessee still has to travel to Georgia and Iowa State avoided a near-disaster against UCF this week. Can the Cyclones run the table in the regular season?

There really is a tight race between a handful of teams as we head towards the end of October.

Bye in the first round:

1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. BYU
4. Clemson

First round games:

5. Oregon vs. 12. Boise State
6. Miami x 11. Texas A&M
7. Penn State vs. 10. Indiana
8. Texas x 9. Notre Dame

Second round games:
1. Ohio State vs. 8. Texas
4. Clemson vs.
3. BYU vs.
2. Georgia vs. Georgia 7. Penn State

Semi-final games
1. Ohio State vs. 5. Oregon
2. Georgia vs. Georgia 11. Texas A&M

National Championship
2. Georgia over 1. Ohio State

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