With the season almost two-thirds the way over now following Week 8, ESPN has released their updated postseason picture, including new projections for the 2024 College Football Playoff.
The Big Ten was the big winner in this weekend’s release with the most teams in the playoff now at four with the No. 1 seed as well. As such, the SEC is down to second most with two to three teams and no longer having the top seed. The ACC and Big 12 then have two teams apiece in the projections along with one each from the independents and the Group of Five.
Here’s how ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach see the playoff following the games of this past week:
Bonagura: No. 12 Notre Dame at No. 5 Penn State
Schlabach: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State
A Big Ten team would be hosting in the five-twelve matchup with the top at-large Ohio State or Penn State.
As for No. 12, Notre Dame still finds itself there for Bonagura. Schlabach actually took a champion from Group of Five, though, with his selection still being Boise State out of the Mountain West
Bonagura: No. 11 Iowa State at No. 6 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 11 Iowa State at No. 6 Penn State
Iowa State, one of two undefeated teams left in the Big 12, is the No. 11 seed for both experts at ESPN. Despite needing a two-score comeback in the second half yesterday, the Cyclones have now matched their best start in school history at 7-0.
They’d then find themselves on the road against one of the two teams from the previous projection with them going vice-versa with the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions at No. 6.
Bonagura:Â No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Texas
Schlabach:Â No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Texas
Texas had been the No. 1 overall seed for some time now this season for ESPN. However, with their 15-point loss to Georgia in Austin, the Longhorns are down all the way to No. 7
With that, The 40 Acres would welcome a No. 10 seed in either the BYU Cougars or now the Indiana Hoosiers.
Bonagura:Â No. 9 Clemson at No. 8 Indiana
Schlabach:Â No. 9 Clemson at No. 8 Tennessee
Clemson stayed around the same seeding again with the Tigers being on the road now as the No. 9 seed in the CFP.
However, their location and opponent has changed for both with two teams moving past them in the projection. Bonagura has them going to play Indiana in Bloomington whole Schlabach has them facing Tennessee on Rocky Top.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl
Bonagura:Â No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 4 Boise State
Schlabach: No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 BYU
With where things stand in the Big 12, Bonagura still has Boise State in his playoff as well but with a bye as one of the four highest-rated conference champions. That would mean the Broncos would face Penn State in his projection for the Fiesta Bowl.
On the opposite, Schlabach still has faith in the Big 12. He has BYU being their champion in the top-four with Ohio State being their matchup in this quarterfinal.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl
Bonagura: No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Miami
Schlabach: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 3 Miami
Miami has managed to maintain their spot at No. 2 despite three weeks of closer calls in league play. Still, unless actually defeated, the ‘Canes remain one of the top contenders in their conference as each have them as their winner of the ACC Championship.
That would again lead to a game for someone in this field against one of the Buckeyes or Nittany Lions.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game
Bonagura: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 9 Clemson vs. No. 1 Oregon
Regardless of seeding, the Rose Bowl would be the exact same matchup for both with Ducks vs. Tigers.
Oregon took the No. 1 seed this week following their win over Ohio State, a follow up on Friday, and then Texas’ loss. That has them playing in Pasadena against a quality opponent, based on every game besides their opener, in Clemson.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl
Bonagura:Â No. 7 Texas vs. No. 2 Georgia
Schlabach:Â No. 7 Texas vs. No. 2 Georgia
Déjà vu? Unfortunately for the Longhorns, yes.
After playing just last night in a 30-15 outcome, Georgia vs. Texas is a projected playoff game by ESPN. It was previously a national championship prediction in this series but is now a quarterfinal by this one for the Sugar Bowl.
CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl
Bonagura:Â No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Georgia
Schlabach: No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Oregon
One way or another, ESPN has Ohio State in the semifinals as either a six set up against a two or a five facing a one.
In either one, the seeds involved would have a rematch of sorts for the Orange Bowl. We’d either have the Buckeyes vs. the Bulldogs, a replay of a playoff semi just two seasons ago, or we’d have a second, or potential third, game between the Buckeyes and the Ducks.
CFP Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic
Bonagura: No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 3 Miami vs. No. 2 Georgia
Oregon at No. 1 and Georgia at No. 2 are again involved in the other semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.
As for their potential opponents, Bonagura has it being Penn State for the Ducks while Schlabach has it being Miami for the ‘Dawgs.
CFP National Championship
Bonagura: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach:Â No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 1 Oregon
Regardless, though, ESPN has the eventual title game being Ducks vs. ‘Dawgs in Atlanta.
Ironically enough, it’d be an exact rematch of the first game for Oregon under Dan Lanning, the former defensive coordinator for Georgia, in 2022 – a 49-3 win for UGA en route to a second consecutive national title. However, this one would be for everything on the line in the championship game of the CFP.
ESPN 2024 Bowl Season predictions after Week 7
Celebration Bowl
Bonagura: Jackson State vs. NC Central
Schlabach: Jackson State vs. NC Central
Camellia Bowl
Bonagura: Virginia vs. North Texas
Schlabach: Ohio vs. Louisiana Monroe
Frisco Bowl
Bonagura: USC vs. Georgia Southern
Schlabach: Louisiana vs. North Texas
Boca Raton Bowl
Bonagura: Texas State vs. USF
Schlabach: Buffalo vs. Tulane
L.A. Bowl
Bonagura: California vs. UNLV
Schlabach: Washington vs. UNLV
New Orleans Bowl
Bonagura: Sam Houston State vs. James Madison
Schlabach: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern
Cure Bowl
Bonagura: Jacksonville State vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: East Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina
Gasparilla Bowl
Bonagura: Minnesota vs. Vanderbilt
Schlabach: Virginia vs. Florida
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Bonagura: South Alabama vs. East Carolina
Schlabach: Marshall vs. Charlotte
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Bonagura: Eastern Michigan vs. San José State
Schlabach: Western Michigan vs. Fresno State
Hawaii Bowl
Bonagura: Western Kentucky vs. Colorado State
Schlabach: Western Kentucky vs. Colorado State
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Bonagura: Northern Illinois vs. Rutgers
Schlabach: Toledo vs. Michigan State
Rate Bowl
Bonagura:Â Michigan State vs. UCF
Schlabach:Â Minnesota vs. Utah
68 Ventures Bowl
Bonagura: UConn vs. Marshall
Schlabach: Jacksonville State vs. James Madison
Birmingham Bowl
Bonagura: Arkansas vs. Tulane
Schlabach: South Carolina vs. Boston College
Armed Forces Bowl
Bonagura: Oklahoma vs. Navy
Schlabach:Â West Virginia vs. Army
Liberty Bowl
Bonagura: TCU vs. Missouri
Schlabach: TCU vs. Vanderbilt
Holiday Bowl
Bonagura: SMU vs. Colorado
Schlabach: SMU vs. Colorado
Las Vegas Bowl
Bonagura: Alabama vs. Arizona State
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Arizona State
Fenway Bowl
Bonagura: Memphis vs. Georgia Tech
Schlabach: Memphis vs. Virginia Tech
Pinstripe Bowl
Bonagura: Virginia Tech vs. Michigan
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Iowa
New Mexico Bowl
Bonagura: Fresno State vs. Washington
Schlabach: San Diego State vs. Texas State
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Bonagura: Pittsburgh vs. Texas Tech
Schlabach: Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech
Arizona Bowl
Bonagura: Buffalo vs. Nevada
Schlabach: Eastern Michigan vs. San José State
Military Bowl
Bonagura: Syracuse vs. Army
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Navy
Alamo Bowl
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Washington State
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. Washington State
Independence Bowl
Bonagura: Utah vs. Louisiana
Schlabach:Â Arizona vs. NC State
Music City Bowl
Bonagura: Wisconsin vs. LSU
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Missouri
ReliaQuest Bowl
Bonagura: Iowa vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach:Â Wisconsin vs. Ole Miss
Sun Bowl
Bonagura: Boston College vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Georgia Tech vs. Oregon State
Citrus Bowl
Bonagura: Illinois vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: Illinois vs. LSU
Texas Bowl
Bonagura: Cincinnati vs. South Carolina
Schlabach: Cincinnati vs. Arkansas
Gator Bowl
Bonagura: Louisville vs. Tennessee
Schlabach: Pittsburgh vs. Texas A&M
First Responder Bowl
Bonagura:Â Baylor vs. Maryland
Schlabach: Baylor vs. Maryland
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bonagura: Duke vs. Nebraska
Schlabach: Duke vs. Nebraska
Bahamas Bowl
Bonagura: Liberty vs. Toledo
Schlabach: Sam Houston State vs. Northern Illinois
