(Photo Courtesy: Yahoo Sports)
The most anticipated Saturday did not disappoint. From noon to midnight, coast to coast, many teams put themselves in a position to make a run for their conference and a spot in the playoffs. Many headlines came out from this weekend: Oregon narrowly defeated Ohio St, Texas pounced on their arch nemesis Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, Alabama escaped what could’ve been another upset against South Carolina, and LSU had Death Valley rocking with a home victory over Ole Miss.
The Power Four conferences have turned into the Wild West, with various teams contending for a spot in the championships. Clemson has emerged as a strong contender in the ACC, winning five straight since their opening-week loss to Georgia. The Big 12 comes down to two teams, Iowa St, and BYU, both were considered midpack teams in the preseason. Both the SEC and BIG 10 have multiple teams in the top twenty-five and where every game shakes up the landscape.
Also, worth noting that both the Army and Navy entered the top 25, at 23 and 25, respectively. The two military squads are now destined for a historic showdown come December. Boise St continues their unprecedented climb, led by unanimous Heisman frontrunner Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty is currently on pace to break former Heisman Barry Sanders rushing yards record. The Broncos are the real deal, and they could see themselves ranked in the top 10 come selection day.
With all of that being said, here is my projected playoff bracket entering week eight:
Projected First-Round Byes:
1. Texas (SEC Champion)
2. Oregon (BIG 10 Champion)
3. Miami (ACC Champion)
4. Iowa St (BIG 12 Champion
Projected First-Round Matchups:
12. Boise St vs 5. Georgia
11. Clemson vs 6. Notre Dame
10. Ohio St vs 7. Penn St
9. Texas A&M vs 8. Alabama
Games to watch this weekend:
Nebraska VS 16 Indiana (Saturday NOON EST FOX)
This might not seem like much on paper, but this one can have a massive impact on how the BIG 10 plays out. Indiana, led by head coach Curt Cignetti, are absolutely rolling, sitting atop the conference. Nebraska is no joke either, currently at 5-1, with their only loss coming to Illinois. The tale of the tape will be between the trenches, as both teams are top two in the BIG 10 in sacks. Both offenses thrive on a successful run game, which opens up the field for a passing game designed to go deep and stretch the hashmarks. Expect a back-and-forth game, with it coming down to who has the ball last. The Hoosiers of Indiana will keep rolling and get the home win.
7 Alabama vs 11 Tennessee (Saturday 3:30PM EST ABC/ESPN+)
Good Ol’ rocky top will be absolutely electric, as history could repeat itself as the Vols welcome rival Alabama. Both teams are coming off close victories after being upset the week prior. Both squads are similar in style of play, with dual threat quarterbacks, explosive offenses, and physical defenses. The Vols haven’t lost at home since last November, losing to Georgia. Rocky top will be celebrating long into the night, with the Vols getting the win over visiting Alabama.
5 Georgia vs 1 Texas (Saturday 7:30PM EST ABC/ESPN+)
The SEC never disappoints, and the primetime match could turn into an instant classic. This will be the Longhorns toughest test thus far, and we’ve seen that no matter the score, Georgia can keep it close and fight until the end. Texas is top five in every offensive and defensive category, and for good reason, Quinn Ewers has been arguably the best quarterback in the country, and the Longhorns defense is both experienced and explosive. While Georgia is no joke either, their defense hasn’t been there compared to years past, and now they face one of, if not the best offense in college football. The Longhorns will get the home win in primetime and continue their journey towards a national title.
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