We're getting closer to the first official college football rankings.
With the playoffs expanding to 12 teams this season, we're breaking down our projected playoff fields each week leading up to the first rankings being released on November 5.
Without the CFP rankings as our guide, we will largely rely on the top 25 APs as our barometer for projecting the field. The CFP rankings and the AP end-of-season poll typically show far more similarities than differences. Here's what the provisional playoff field looks like at the halfway point of the 2024 season.
Bye in the first round
1. Texas (6-0, projected SEC champion)
This allowed the Longhorns to maintain their No. 1 ranking with a 34-3 demolition of rival Oklahoma in Dallas. Texas scored the final 34 points of the game after Oklahoma took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Things will get a little tougher for the Longhorns in Week 8 when Georgia visits Austin in what could be a preview of the SEC Championship Game. Texas will need a better start from Quinn Ewers in this game. He was a little rusty before he started playing against the Sooners.
2. Oregon (6-0, projected Big Ten champion)
The Ducks advanced to the top four for the first time this season with their 32-31 victory over Ohio State. Oregon did enough on defense with a brilliant field goal in the final seconds, and QB Dillon Gabriel showed why he became a summer Heisman favorite after transferring to Oregon. Gabriel scored two goals and also ran for another.
3. Miami (6-0, projected ACC champion)
The Hurricanes didn't play in Week 7 and will face a tough road contest in Week 8. Miami travels to Louisville for a game starting at noon ET. The Cardinals performed very well against top opponents at home under Jeff Brohm. We expect Brohm to try to trick his opponent at some point during the match.
4. Iowa State (6-0, projected Big 12 champion)
Iowa State didn't cause drama in Morgantown in Week 7. The Cyclones led 14-10 at halftime and scored the first 14 points of the fourth quarter to take a three-possession lead with 4:42 remaining in a 28-16 victory. Carson Hansen rushed for three touchdowns and Rocco Becht continued to pass calmly and effectively.
First round matches
No. 12. Boise State (5-1, projected MWC champion) vs. No. 5. Penn State (6-0, overall)
This would be a very fun running battle. Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is averaging 9.9 yards and is the midseason Heisman favorite. PSU is averaging over five yards per rusher in creative runs, as both Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have rushed for over 400 yards this season. Penn State TE Tyler Warren had 17 catches for 224 yards. Nittany Lions win in overtime against USC. Harrison Wallace III is the team's second-leading receiver. He has 17 catches throughout the season.
No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, overall) vs. No. 6 Ohio State (5-1, overall)
This game is a departure from the current AP rankings and is an example of what the committee can do at the end of the season. Tennessee will face Georgia later this season, against Alabama in Week 8, and the Bulldogs have already lost to the Crimson Tide. The Vols are ahead of LSU in the AP Top 25, but in this set of playoff projections, that would mean a rematch with Georgia. A trip to Columbus isn't much further than Athens either.
No. 10 LSU (5-1 overall) vs. No. 7 Georgia (5-1 overall)
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is currently the sixth-best passer in the nation for the Tigers' overtime win over Ole Miss. Nussmeier threw the game-winning TD pass to Kyren Lacy after Ole Miss kicked a field goal and has thrown for 1,989 yards and 18 TDs already this season. He also only took two bags. Georgia's Carson Beck has become the focal point of the Bulldogs' offense this season, but he hasn't been as effective as he was in 2023. Beck is completing a lower percentage of his passes, averaging 0.8 fewer yards per throw and is one interception away from matching his total from all of last season.
No. 9 Clemson (5-1, overall) vs. No. 8 Alabama (5-1, overall)
Resuming the Clemson-Alabama rivalry in the first round of the expanded playoffs would be the right thing to do. The Tigers have scored at least 40 points in four of their last five games, and the offense is clearly back on track after a disastrous performance in Week 1. Alabama's Jalen Milroe continues to be a catalyst for the Crimson Tide's offense and will need to avoid turning the ball over against Tennessee. Milroe had an interception and a foul in the loss to Vanderbilt and had two interceptions in Saturday's game against South Carolina, which was too close for comfort.
