College Football Playoff: CBS Sports projects 12-team field, full bowl slate after Week 8

Week 8 of the college football season has come to pass, and it brought with it some big-time matchups with big-time College Football Playoff implications. The ripple effect was felt throughout the country.

Matchups of note included several showdowns in the SEC including Georgia’s win over a top-five Ole Miss team at home, Alabama defeating Tennessee by three scores and Vanderbilt’s upset over a top-10 LSU team. No. 13 Notre Dame held strong against USC at home, defeating the Trojans 34-24 and BYU remained undefeated with a 24-21 win over a ranked Utah team.

In turn, CBS Sports has shaken up their predictions for the College Football Playoff. Here are the updated projections from CBS Sports, along with a projection list of every bowl game:

College Football Playoff First Round Game #1

No. 12 USF at No. 5 Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is 7-0 for the first time since 1966 after defeating Duke 27-18 on Saturday. They’re now the last undefeated team in the ACC after Miami’s shocking upset loss to Louisville.

The Bulls are aided by Memphis’ upset loss to UAB during Week 8, who was also ranked in the AP Top 25 heading into last week. Now, it appears the Bulls are the top representative for the Group of Five in the CFP.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #2

No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 6 Oregon

Oregon bounced back in a big way from its loss to Indiana last week by disposing of Rutgers 56-10 during Week 8. Though, the Duck no longer control its fate when it comes to the Big Ten Championship, which hinders their ability to be a top-four seed.

Notre Dame kept its playoff hopes alive after defeating No. 20 USC 34-24. The Fighting Irish will most likely have to win out to find itself in the CFP after losing their first two games of the season.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #3

No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 7 Texas Tech

Texas Tech suffered its first setback of the season after losing to Arizona State 26-22. That makes the Nov. 8 matchup against BYU must-win for the Red Raiders.

Like Texas Tech, Ole Miss tasted defeat for the first time in 2025. Losing on the road to Georgia 43-35, the Rebels will get right back to work this weekend against a highly-ranked Oklahoma squad.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #4

No. 9 Miami at No. 8 Texas A&M

Texas A&M is off to its best start to a season since 1994. They improved to 7-0 after defeating Arkansas 45-42 and are now the final undefeated team left in the SEC.

Miami has been projected as a top-four seed for most, if not all season long by many. However, they ran into the brick wall that was Louisville to put a stop to their undefeated start. With no ranked teams left to play on their schedule, the ‘Canes will likely have to win out to make the CFP.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl

Ohio State vs. TBD

Ohio State steamrolled Wisconsin, defeating the Badgers 34-0 on the road during Week 8. The win improves the Buckeyes to 7-0 this season, and are expected to be the top seed in this year’s College Football Playoff if they continue playing to this level.

It’s been nearly a full calendar year since Ohio State has lost a football game. In turn, all eyes are on the regular season finale against Michigan.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl

Alabama vs. TBD

Alabama’s season could have gone the complete opposite way after losing to Florida State during Week 1. Now, the Crimson Tide appear to be one of the best teams in the country, let alone the SEC.

Winning their last six games, the Crimson Tide have also rattled off four consecutive victories over AP Top 25 teams including Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Georgia, in that order. They’re set to take on South Carolina on the road this weekend.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl

Indiana vs. TBD

Indiana solidified itself as a true College Football Playoff contender after defeating Oregon on the road last week. Curt Cignetti’s squad backed that up this weekend with its 38-13 win over Michigan State.

Now, the Hoosiers are 7-0 for the second-straight season under Cignetti. If they finish the regular season undefeated as expected, a Big Ten title matchup against Ohio State would be quite the stage for the Hoosiers to be on in his second year with the program. Despite making the CFP in 2024, neither program were a part of that matchup.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl

Georgia Tech vs. TBD

Georgia Tech is off to its best start since 1966. They improved to 7-0 on the season after defeating Duke 27-18, which ties head coach Brent Key’s season win total in each of his first two seasons with the program.

All signs point toward a top-10 matchups between the Yellow Jackets and in-state rival Georgia Bulldogs to end the regular season. After last year’s eight overtime affair, this matchup could be even better .

CBS Bowl Projections after Week 8

Date TBA

Bahamas Bowl (TBD)
TBD
TBD
Miami (OH) vs. Louisiana Tech

Saturday, Dec. 13

LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN
San Diego State vs. Washington

Tuesday, Dec. 16

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Connecticut vs. Jacksonville State

Wednesday, Dec. 17

StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5 p.m., ESPN
James Madison vs. Toledo

68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
8:30 p.m., ESPN
Temple vs. Georgia Southern

Friday, Dec. 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
Noon, ESPN
Troy vs. FIU

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Memphis vs. Wake Forest

Monday, Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
2 p.m., ESPN
Buffalo vs. Utah State

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Boca Raton Bowl
Flagler Credit Union Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
2 p.m., ESPN
North Texas vs. Old Dominion

New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Frisco, Texas
9 p.m., ESPN
UTSA vs. Arkansas State

Wednesday, Dec. 24

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN
Hawaii vs. East Carolina

Friday, Dec. 26

GameAbove Sports Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
1 p.m., ESPN
Minnesota vs. Ohio

Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Arizona vs. Iowa

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
8 p.m., ESPN
Duke vs. Fresno State

Saturday, Dec. 27

Go Bowling Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
11 a.m., ESPN
NC State vs. Navy

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
Noon, ABC
Florida State vs. Maryland

Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
2:15 p.m., ESPN
Pittsburgh vs. Tulane

Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC
Louisville vs. Cincinnati

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m., CW Network
Boise State vs. Western Michigan

Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN
UNLV vs. Texas State

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m. ABC
SMU vs. Oklahoma

Kinder’s Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9:15 p.m., ESPN
TCU vs. Missouri

Monday, Dec. 29

Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
2 p.m., ESPN
Appalachian State vs. Bowling Green

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
2 p.m., ESPN
Kansas vs. California

Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Northwestern vs. Tennessee

Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9 p.m., ESPN
USC vs. Arizona State

Wednesday, Dec. 31

ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Central Michigan vs. Washington State

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3 p.m., ABC
Texas vs. Michigan

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Illinois vs. Iowa State

Friday, Jan. 2

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
1 p.m., ESPN
Army vs. BYU

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Houston vs. LSU

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
8 p.m., ESPN
Clemson vs. Auburn

Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
Virginia vs. Utah