The penultimate weekend of college football usually helps clear up the playoff picture. But this year, with the first-ever 12-team playoff format, things are anything but simple. Instead of clarity, we’re left with countless possibilities and big questions as teams jockey for position heading into championship weekend.
Some teams have already wrapped up their regular seasons and are waiting to see how the committee ranks them. Meanwhile, five conferences are fighting for first-round byes, and the upcoming championship games will play a major role in deciding those coveted spots. The stakes are high, and how this weekend’s results shake up the playoff seeding is anyone’s guess.
For instance, what happens if Penn State suffers a second loss or Georgia picks up a third? Do they drop behind teams sitting idle, or could strong performances against top-ranked Oregon and Texas actually help their cases?
As we wait for those answers, here’s what’s already changed after Week 14. Texas has overtaken Georgia as the SEC champion in projections. Miami’s loss has pushed SMU into the ACC spot. Notre Dame climbed the rankings after a big win over USC, earning the chance to host a first-round playoff game. And Alabama, despite having three losses, edged out South Carolina for the SEC’s fourth playoff spot, thanks to their head-to-head win earlier in the season.
Beyond the playoff picture, all 82 bowl games will be filled with eligible teams this year, as exactly the right number of teams reached the required six wins. Funny how things have a way of working out.
It’s also worth noting that not all conferences will fill their bowl slots, and some matchups will include replacement picks. And as part of an agreement, legacy Pac-12 schools in other conferences will honor the Pac-12’s existing bowl commitments through 2025.
The championship games ahead promise to shake things up even more. Stay tuned, because the drama of this college football season is far from over.
