Bowl Projections 2024-25: CFP Playoff Bracket and Scenarios After Week 12 AP Rankings
Bowl Projections 2024-25: CFP Playoff Bracket and Scenarios After Week 12 AP Rankings0 of 3
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The SEC hierarchy shifted around once again after Week 11.
The Texas Longhorns are now the highest-ranked team in the SEC, but they are currently surrounded by a quartet of Big Ten teams in the latest AP Top 25.
The Oregon Ducks are once again on top, while the Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions and Indiana Hoosiers are all inside the top five.
Saturday’s loss by the Georgia Bulldogs dropped them from No. 2 to No. 11 in the AP Top 25, but they have the biggest opportunity to shoot back up into the top 10 with a Week 12 win over the Tennessee Volunteers.
Georgia-Tennessee is the most consequential Week 12 game in regard to the College Football Playoff. A Georgia win would alter the SEC standings once more and give it a chance to play in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia-Tennessee Week 12 Showdown Carries Major Playoff Significance1 of 3
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Georgia has an opportunity to immediately bounce back from its road loss to the Ole Miss Rebels.
Kirby Smart’s team hosts Tennessee in a game that could catapult it back into the top 10.
UGA’s playoff seeding could be difficult to figure out for the selection committee if it beats Tennessee.
Georgia would then have wins over Tennessee and Texas in SEC play and over the Clemson Tigers from Week 1, but it also suffered losses to the Alabama Crimson Tide and Ole Miss.
A Tennessee win could knock Georgia out of the playoff conversation, depending on how big the potential victory would be.
Tennessee would then likely cruise into the SEC Championship Game against the winner of the Texas-Texas A&M game on Thanksgiving weekend.
However, a UGA win in Athens would then six SEC teams on two conference losses and all put all sorts of tiebreakers into play.
Miami Doesn’t Have Much Margin of Error After Eight Spot Drop 2 of 3
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Miami tumbled right down the AP Top 25 alongside Georgia.
The Hurricanes are down to No. 12 and a similar drop could be in store for them in Tuesday’s CFB Playoff rankings release.
The good news for Miami is that it should bounce back fairly easily in games against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Syracuse Orange.
Those two wins should at least allow Miami to move up a few spots in the polls before the ACC Championship Game.
The SMU Mustangs are the likely opponent for Miami in the ACC title game. They are playing some of the best football in the FBS and likely need the ACC’s automatic bid to get into the playoff.
Miami might get in as an at-large team with two losses, but it might not want to tempt that danger because of how strong the top ends of the Big Ten and SEC are.
Indiana Looks Safer By the Week 3 of 3
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Indiana was the biggest beneficiary of the losses suffered by Georgia and Miami.
The Hoosiers moved up to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 and they should be safer about earning an at-large spot, at minimum, in the 12-team playoff.
Indiana’s only expected loss on the schedule is against Ohio State in two weeks.
A loss to Ohio State would likely not trigger a stumble as large as the ones suffered by UGA and Miami on Sunday.
Indiana would not make the Big Ten Championship Game with a loss to Ohio State, so it would be in great shape at 11-1 with its only defeat to a top-three program.
