Week 1 is in the books and already there are changes in my original College Football Playoff projections.
Let’s start by saying goodbye to Florida State. The Seminoles are not technically eliminated from CFP contention, but it is hard to see a road back to it without some significant improvements. Already at 0-2 in ACC play, the conference title may be out of reach. They have their first nonconference game this week against Memphis, which is no pushover. And, of course, there is the trip to Notre Dame in November. There are also conference games with Clemson and at Miami still to come. FSU may have to get better just to make it to a bowl game.
Still, it could be worse. Their in-state rival Florida got drilled in its home opener by Miami 41-17. It was the Gators’ first loss in a home-opener in 35 years. Florida has an especially unforgiving SEC slate, with games to come against Texas A&M, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, LSU and Ole Miss.
Coming off that performance, Miami looks clearly like the team to beat in the ACC and is now projected to get a top-4 seed in the CFP as a conference champion.
The other team to drop out of this week’s CFP projection is Texas A&M following a 23-13 loss at home to Notre Dame. The Irish have replaced the Aggies in this week’s projection. Notre Dame may be favored every time it takes take the field the rest of the way. The only other team left on its schedule that is likely to be in this week’s rankings is USC. The Trojans host Notre Dame in the regular-season finale.
Even if the Irish were to run the table, the highest they could be seeded in the College Football Playoff is fifth because the top four seeds will be conference champions.
Iowa is the other new team in this week’s CFP projection. The Hawkeyes still…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/bowl-projections-miami-makes-big-move-to-join-top-four-teams-in-updated-college-football-playoff-field/
Author : Jerry Palm
Publish date : 2024-09-03 16:53:57
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