The race for the 2024 College Football Playoff is reaching a critical juncture as Week 13 approaches. With the expanded 12-team format in effect, the fight for the top seeds and the final at-large bids is more intense than ever. Tuesday’s rankings release will provide crucial insight into where teams stand with rivalry week on the horizon.
Bubble Watch: Who’s In, Who’s Out?
Heading into Tuesday’s reveal, several high-profile teams find themselves squarely on the playoff bubble. The likes of Georgia, BYU, Tennessee, and Colorado all have paths to the field of 12 but will need some help or key wins down the stretch to solidify their positions.
Georgia’s victory over Tennessee vaulted the Bulldogs back into the playoff picture, but they likely need to win out and reach the SEC title game to feel comfortable about their chances. BYU, meanwhile, saw its margin for error vanish with an upset loss to Kansas last week. The Cougars now have to win out and hope for a Boise State stumble to earn a first-round bye.
The intrigue isn’t limited to the power conferences, either. Undefeated Tulane and Army are making compelling cases to be the highest-ranked Group of 5 champions, which would ensure a playoff berth. However, both teams have treacherous paths ahead and can ill afford a slip-up.
Projected Playoff Bracket
If the season ended today, here’s how the playoff bracket might look, based on reasonable projections:
- First-Round Byes: 1. Oregon, 2. Texas, 3. Miami, 4. Boise State
- First-Round Matchups: – No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Notre Dame (winner faces Oregon) – No. 12 BYU at No. 5 Ohio State (winner faces Boise State) – No. 11 Georgia at No. 6 Penn State (winner faces Miami) – No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 7 Indiana (winner faces Texas)
Of course, these projections are fluid and highly subject to change over the final two weeks. The committee will have several key questions to grapple with, such as:
- Will Boise State leapfrog BYU for the G5’s automatic bid and first-round bye?
- Can Georgia make up ground on two-loss Alabama and Ole Miss teams it lost to head-to-head?
- How will the Big Ten’s East Division power struggle between Ohio State, Indiana, and Penn State affect seeding?
New Stakes for Rivalry Week
The expanded playoff has added a new layer of drama to the traditional rivalry week clashes. Suddenly, games that would have been primarily for bragging rights carry serious playoff implications on both sides.
According to sources inside multiple programs, teams that would have been eliminated from contention are now embracing the chance to play spoiler for hated rivals while also keeping their own faint hopes alive. The Iron Bowl, The Game, and Bedlam all fit this description perfectly.
“You always want to beat your rival. But now, knocking them out of playoff position would be even sweeter. It just means more this year.”
– A senior captain at a traditional football power
With so much at stake and little margin for error, the next rankings release will set the stage for a riveting end to the 2024 regular season. Teams will anxiously await Tuesday’s verdict from the committee before turning their attention to a rivalry week that could make or break playoff dreams across the country.
