Hello, and welcome to my weekly College Football Playoff bracket. I’ll be updating every week based on new results. They are based solely on my opinions and likely will differ from Austin Mock’s much smarter, scientifically based projections. Also, be sure to check out David Ubben’s Bubble Watch every Monday.
Five teams in the top 11 of the AP poll went down on Saturday, causing some serious re-examination of my bracket. But I tried not to overreact to Alabama’s 40-35 loss at Vanderbilt or Tennessee’s 19-14 loss at Arkansas.
I still see the Tide and Vols getting in, although with Tennessee beating Alabama in two weeks and the Tide sneaking in toward the bottom of the at-large pecking order. (This scenario assumes a Texas-Georgia SEC title game.)
I considered swapping in Texas A&M, but I would like to see more than one great performance against Missouri.
GO DEEPER
Mandel’s Final Thoughts: In zany day of upsets, Vanderbilt-Alabama stands above the rest
I considered elevating Clemson to ACC champ after Miami’s back-to-back close calls, but the Tigers’ four-game winning streak has come against light competition. I’ll hold off for now.
One team I’m done with is USC after its 24-17 loss at Minnesota, which was the Trojans’ second defeat. In their place is Notre Dame, and its toughest remaining game may be at USC on Thanksgiving weekend. The Irish, discounted after their Week 2 home loss to Northern Illinois, are back in the at-large picture, although I was tempted to go with Indiana.
GO DEEPER
Five lessons for the CFP race after the season’s wildest weekend yet
Finally, Boise State is my Group of 5 team now, not so much because UNLV fell in overtime at home to Syracuse but because Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos look like a machine. But they may need to beat the Rebels twice.
(Photos of Josh Heupel, left, and Kalen DeBoer: Steve Roberts, Nelson Chenault / Imagn Images)
