Week 2 was our, well, weekly reminder that college football really is the best. Shocks, shootouts, and standoffs shook up the race to conference championship games and, ultimately, the College Football Playoff. How did the weekend action shake up the postseason picture? Our latest college football bowl projections provide a peek into the future outlook for all 134 teams.
2024 College Football Bowl Projections | College Football Playoff First Round
The most significant change to the 2024 college football bowl projections occurs away from any conference bowl tie-in. The new 12-team playoff format means that eight teams will place an on-campus postseason game without any bowl allegiance. After college football Week 2 the projected first-round lineup looks like this:
- No. 5 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 12 Memphis Tigers
- No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels vs. No. 11 USC Trojans
- No. 7 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 10 Missouri Tigers
- No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 9 Penn State Nittany Lions
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The most significant movement in our updated 2024 college football bowl projections sees the Memphis Tigers overtake the Liberty Flames as the Group of Five representatives. While Jamey Chadwell’s team recovered from a faltering start to get the win over New Mexico State, as the frontrunner in the American Athletic Conference, Memphis has the inside track to a spot.
The Michigan Wolverines’ loss to Texas and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish capitulation against the Northern Illinois Huskies also has a significant impact on the postseason outlook. In a tightly-contested Big Ten conference, a performance like the one we saw from Sherrone Moore’s side in Week 2 could see them easily miss out on a spot in the expanded playoff format.
2024 College Football Bowl Projections | College Football Playoff Quarterfinals and Semifinals
Fiesta Bowl (CFB Playoff Quarterfinal): No. 3 Miami (FL) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
Another week, another performance from Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward inspires confidence that Mario Cristobal’s team might be the legitimate contender in the ACC this fall. Meanwhile, Ole Miss continues to kerb stomp every inferior opponent put in their path. Tougher tests will prove their real potential, but Jaxson Dart has Lane Kiffin’s team humming.
Peach Bowl (CFB Playoff Quarterfinal): No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Oregon
We learned nothing about the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 2 that we didn’t already know from their impressive opener against the Clemson Tigers, a result that looks even more eye-catching after Dabo Swinney’s team ruthlessly beat up on Appalachian State. Our latest college football bowl projections match them up against an Oregon team that barely survived against Boise State.
Rose Bowl (CFB Playoff Quarterfinal): No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Penn State
The Ohio State Buckeyes have the best running back room in the country, one of the best wide receiving rooms in the country (probably the best here too, if we’re being honest) and in Jeremiah Smith, they have a true freshman who is probably the best in the country. As Michigan and Penn State faltered, Ryan Day’s team crushed Western Michigan.
Although the Nittany Lions had to come from behind to beat a strong Bowling Green side in Week 2, their offense is trending in the right direction and their defense has the parts to cause any team an issue. A quarterfinal spot isn’t out of the question for James Franklin’s team if they can simply live up to their potential.
Sugar Bowl (CFB Playoff Quarterfinal): No. 4 Utah vs. No. 5 Texas
Much of the Utah Utes’ positioning in our latest college football bowl projections relies on a healthy Cam Rising, something that is far from a given. After losing their signal-caller all last season, Rising injured his hand yesterday, leaving the program rudderless in the win over Baylor. Isaac Wilson is the future of the Utes, but can he guide them to a Big 12 title if Rising is absent?
Texas, meanwhile, was imperious in their crushing Week 2 win over Michigan. Ironically, if the Longhorns were still in the Big 12, they’d be a lock for a first-round bye as a Power Four conference champion. Playing in the same conference as Georgia might limit where they’re seeded, but don’t sleep on Texas making it all the way to the College Football National Championship Game.
Orange Bowl (CFB Semifinal): No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 3 Miami (FL)
In our latest college football bowl projections, the Bulldogs despatch Oregon in the quarterfinal to set up an Orange Bowl matchup with the Hurricanes, who appear — early on in this 2024 season to have — the defense to hold Ole Miss and the offense to go toe-to-toe with most teams in the country. However, Georgia presents a whole different proposition for Miami in a semifinal.
Cotton Bowl (CFB Semifinal): No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Texas
As we’ve said multiple times in these college football bowl projections, it’s early in the season, and a lot can change between now and December/January. However, at this early stage, it’s difficult to imagine a better matchup than Ohio State vs. Texas. This semifinal is a matchup worthy of the title game, but comes one game too early for the Longhorns and Buckeyes.
Projections for the Remaining 2024 College Football Bowl Games
Celebration Bowl
Howard vs. Florida A&M
Camellia Bowl
Eastern Michigan vs. Louisiana
Frisco Bowl
Louisiana-Monroe vs. Fresno State
Boca Raton Bowl
USF vs. Oregon State
LA Bowl
UNLV vs. Washington State
New Orleans Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. Coastal Carolina
Cure Bowl
Texas State vs. Bowling Green
Gasparilla Bowl
Navy vs. Vanderbilt
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Toledo vs. Appalachian State
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Central Michigan vs. Colorado State
Hawaii Bowl
Tulsa vs. Hawaii
Detroit Bowl
Indiana vs. Northern Illinois
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Boise State vs. BYU
68 Ventures Bowl
James Madison vs. Pittsburgh
Armed Forces Bowl
Rutgers vs. East Carolina
Birmingham Bowl
Auburn vs. Duke
Liberty Bowl
UCF vs. Arkansas
Las Vegas Bowl
Arizona State vs. Texas A&M
Fenway Bowl
SMU vs. Tulane
Pinstripe Bowl
Florida State vs. Wisconsin
New Mexico Bowl
San Jose State vs. Liberty
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Clemson vs. Kansas State
Arizona Bowl
Colorado State vs. Miami (OH)
Military Bowl
Notre Dame vs. North Texas
Alamo Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
Independence Bowl
Kansas vs. Army
Music City Bowl
Nebraska vs. South Carolina
ReliaQuest Bowl
NC State vs. Iowa
Sun Bowl
North Carolina vs. Cal
Citrus Bowl
Michigan vs. Tennessee
Texas Bowl
Iowa State vs. Oklahoma
Gator Bowl
Boston College vs. LSU
First Responder Bowl
Georgia Tech vs. TCU
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Syracuse vs. Illinois
Bahamas Bowl
FIU vs. Ohio
Holiday Bowl
Louisville vs. Washington
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