STILLWATER – If they College Football Playoff started this weekend the BIg 12 would be in and with three weeks to go it looks like the Big 12 will have a top four conference championship bye. The CFP selection committee made that clear with their third to last set of rankings. The final rankings from the committee will come out on Sunday, Dec. 8. Those rankings will solidify the bracket for the 12-team playoff.
Criteria for the CFP 12-team playoff:
Top five conference champions get into the bracket
Top four ranked conference champions get a bye
Teams seeded 5-8 host a first round game at home
USA TODAY Sports
I project Colorado now as the Big 12 Champ.
BYU after losing to Kansas last Saturday dropped to No. 14 in the rankings, but only two behind Boise State, who has no more ranked opponents to play and will likely play anunranked Colorado State team in the Mountain West Championship. Now, Army is 9-0 and ranked No. 19. If the Cadets were able to beat No. 6 Notre Dame in Yankee Stadium this coming Saturday then that could spell problems but otherwise the Big 12 should have an 11-2 champion coming out of the Big 12 Championship on Dec. 7 in Arlington and that team should claim one of the top four conference champion bye positions in the playoff.
As for the path for two Big 12 teams to make it in, that ended with BYU’s loss to Kansas. A very subpar game during what has been a subpar month for the Cougars cost the Big 12 and the way they are playing will likely cost BYU a playoff opportunity.
| College Football Playoff Rankings for Nov. 19, 2024 |
| 1. |
Oregon 11-0 - Big 10 |
8. |
Miami, Fla. 9-1 - ACC |
| 2. |
Ohio State 9-1 - Big 10 |
9. |
Mississippi 8-2 - SEC |
| 3. |
Texas 9-1 - SEC |
10. |
Georgia 8-2 - SEC |
| 4. |
Penn State 9-1 - Big 10 |
11. |
Tennessee 8-2 - SEC |
| 5. |
Indiana 10-0 - Big 10 |
12. |
Boise State 9-1 - MWC |
| 6. |
Notre Dame 9-1 - Ind. |
13. |
SMU 9-1 - ACC |
| 7. |
Alabama 8-2 - SEC |
14. |
BYU 9-1 - Big 12 |
| Other Big 12 Team ranked in the CFP Rankings for Nov. 19, 2024 |
| 16, |
Colorado 8-2 |
| 21. |
Arizona State 8-2 |
| 22. |
Iowa State 8-2 |
Here is the way I project the final playoff bracket to look. Key games for me are Indiana, which I believe will loseto Ohio State but in a close game this coming Saturday in Columbus. My conference champions getting in the CFP are:
Oregon - Big 10
Georgia - SEC
SMU - ACC
Colorado - Big 12
| Robert Allen’s Projected CFP 12-Team Playoff Bracket |
| First Round Games |
Quarterfinals |
Semifinals |
Championship |
|
12-Boise State
5-Texas
|
4-Colorado vs. Boise/UT winner |
Winner |
|
|
9-Indiana
8-Alabama
|
1-Oregon vs. Ind./Bama |
Winner |
Winner |
|
11-Tennessee
6-Ohio State
|
3-SMU vs. Tenn/OSU winner |
Winner |
Winner |
|
10-Penn State
7-Notre Dame
|
2-Georgia vs. PSU/ND winner |
Winner |
|
