The race for the College Football Playoff spots heated up during an eventful Week 8, where some teams saw their hopes come crashing down. The AP Top 25 Poll has fluctuated throughout the season, but a few teams have surged to the forefront in recent weeks.
One of the biggest movers this past weekend was the No. 9 Miami Hurricanes, who suffered a narrow 24-21 loss to the No. 19 Louisville Cardinals. This defeat could potentially eliminate the ACC’s chance at securing a first-round College Football Playoff bye.
Currently, the top five spots are occupied by teams from the Big Ten and SEC conferences, which may lock in the playoff byes for these conferences, to the detriment of others.
### Projected First Round of the College Football Playoff
Below is a look at the projected first round of the College Football Playoff. Arch Manning’s Texas Longhorns have missed out on a spot after a disappointing season marred by two losses early on. The first four teams that appear to be out of the running for a place in the 12-team tournament are the Longhorns, Missouri Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Oklahoma Sooners.
The eight teams set to compete in the first round are:
– No. 12 South Florida at No. 5 Georgia
– No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 6 Miami
– No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 7 BYU
– No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Georgia Tech
### Quarterfinals of the College Football Playoffs
The four teams receiving automatic byes into the quarterfinals are:
– No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide
– No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies
– No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers
– No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes
### Cotton Bowl
The Cotton Bowl will feature the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide against the winner of the first-round clash between No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 12 South Florida Bulls.
### Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl will see the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies face the winner of the first-round game between No. 6 Miami Hurricanes and No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores.
### Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl matchup will involve the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers taking on the winner of the first-round battle between No. 7 BYU Cougars and No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels.
### Rose Bowl
The Rose Bowl will have the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes against the winner of the first-round game between No. 8 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and No. 9 Oregon Ducks.
As the season progresses, these matchups promise to deliver intense and thrilling football as teams vie for a chance at the championship. Stay tuned for updates and more expert analysis throughout the College Football Playoffs!
https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/college-football-playoff-projection-2025-alabama-ohio-state-make-cut-arch-manning-texas-stumble