Week 10 might have delivered the earliest finish of the 2024 college football season but it also served up some scintillating matchups that might have shaped the direction of the new 12-team College Football Playoff after marquee matchups in the Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 conferences.
How did it impact the postseason outlook? In our latest College Football Playoff Predictions, we use the CFN 1-134 Power Rankings to guide a projection of how the 2024-2024 College Football Playoff 12-team bracket could look.
College Football Playoff Predictions | First Round
- No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels
- No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers
- No.7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions
- No. 8 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 9 Boise State Broncos
The most important game for any College Football Playoff predictions took place in Pennsylvania, where Penn State Nittany once again came up short in a big game under James Franklin. Ohio State overcame a Will Howard interception to beat their Big Ten rivals on the road, setting up a date with Indiana that will likely decide who faces the Oregon Ducks in the title game.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
With Oregon favored to win the conference, Ryan Day’s Buckeyes are likely to slot into the fifth seed as the highest-ranked non-conference winner — if they get past the Hoosiers unscathed. Boise State showcased a multi-faceted offense in their crushing Friday night win over the San Diego State Aztecs, and there’s a chance they secure a higher seed than the 12 spot.
College Football Playoff Predictions | Quarterfinal
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 4 BYU Cougars vs. No. 5 Ohio State
- Peach Bowl: No. 3 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 6 Indiana
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 8 Texas
- Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
The four conference champions, according to our latest power rankings, will be BYU (Big 12), Miami (ACC), Oregon (Big Ten), and Georgia (SEC), with those four teams securing first-round byes in our latest College Football Playoff predictions. According to reports this week, those conferences will automatically place teams into contract-specific bowls as listed above.
The Cougars’ reward for winning the Big 12 while ranking the fourth-highest of the conference champions is a Fiesta Bowl clash with a Buckeyes team whose defense is arguably the best in the nation right now. Miami (FL) vs. Indiana would be an intriguing battle, but after going down 10 against the Michigan State Spartans, could they outduel Cam Ward over 60 minutes?
College Football Playoff Predictions | Semifinal
- Orange Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 3 Miami (FL)
- Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 5 Ohio State
In our College Football Playoff predictions, Georgia advances to the semifinal after defeating Notre Dame in the quarterfinal. The Fighting Irish would give the Bulldogs a battle like they’ve not seen this season (including the defeat to the Alabama Crimson Tide). Despite this, Kirby Smart’s team is at its most dangerous in their biggest games — especially with a chip on their shoulder.
FREE: Sign up for the College Football Network Newsletter to receive unique stories from the world of college football directly to your inbox!
Projected results from our quarterfinals set up a rematch of the exciting regular season clash (and possible Big Ten title game) between Oregon and Ohio State. Can the Buckeyes overturn the result from earlier this year? Likely not, the Ducks seem to get better with every week. Dillon Gabriel hasn’t always received the credit he deserves, but he can single-handedly win this game.
College Football Playoff Predictions | National Championship Game
- No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 2 Georgia
For all the conversation about how an expanded 12-team format might cheapen the postseason tournament and even the regular season, through 10 weeks of the 2024 campaign, we’ve been treated to a spectacular showing and a season unlike any other we’ve seen.
Our College Football Playoff predictions also show that it’s entirely possible that the two best teams will make it to the National Championship Game regardless of anything that came before. Oregon vs. Georgia would be an epic clash of destructive defensive, rampant running games, and two efficient quarterbacks who can conjure up a game-winning drive.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.