College Football Playoff: CBS Sports projects 12-team field, full bowl slate after Week 9

Nine weeks of football has been played, and the College Football Playoff field has never been more clear following a pivotal Week 9 slate. There weren’t a ton of major upsets, but enough to see movement across the playoff picture and potential bowl slate.

Notably in the SEC, Texas A&M remained undefeated with a convincing win over a ranked LSU team, Ole Miss outlasted Oklahoma 34-26 and Vanderbilt beat Missouri at home. The game with the biggest CFP implications resided in the American Conference as Memphis beat USF to become the team to beat in the G5 race for the playoffs.

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

College Football Playoff First Round Game #1

No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech’s run continued on Saturday, defeating Syracuse 41-16 to improve to 8-0 on the season. It’s the first time the Yellow Jackets are undefeated through eight games since 1966, and are currently CBS Sports’ projected first-team-out in terms of a first-round bye.

Memphis secured its win of the season during Week 9, defeating a ranked USF team 34-31 after scoring 17 unanswered in the fourth quarter. The Tigers appear to be the Group of Five team to beat among non-power conference teams heading into the back stretch of games this season.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #12

No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 6 Oregon

Oregon is still healing from its to Indiana two weeks ago, but the Ducks have remained on the winning end of things ever since. They’ll enjoy a bye week to begin November, but will return on the road against Iowa during Week 11.

Vanderbilt is looking more like a legitimate playoff contender and not just a cinderella team week after week. The Commodores most recently improved to 7-1 following their win over Missouri, and are looking to beat Texas on the road this weekend.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #3

No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Notre Dame

When Notre Dame began the season 0-2, it appeared as though the Fighting Irish had to win out the rest of the way to make the CFP. After nine weeks, they’ve done just that and have surged up the AP Top 25 as a result.

BYU remained the lone undefeated team in the Big 12 following its 41-27 win over Iowa State on Saturday. When the Cougars return from their bye this weekend, they’ll be taking on Texas Tech in a game that will have major implications in the conference title and College Football Playoff race.

College Football Playoff First Round Game #4

No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 8 Georgia

This matchup was played during Week 8, and saw the Bulldogs emerge victorious at home over the Rebels 43-35. In CBS Sports’ projection the game would once again be played in Athens, putting Ole Miss at a disadvantage.

It remains to be seen whether either team will end up in the SEC Championship game, which could greatly impact either team’s final seed. For now, both teams will look to continue their winning ways to stay in good favor with the selection committee with one loss each.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl

Ohio State vs. TBD

Ohio State enjoyed a bye week on Saturday after improving to 7-0 following its shutout win vs. Wisconsin. The Buckeyes have remained atop the AP poll since Week 2.

They’ve yet to be tested in conference play, with their closest matchup being a 24-6 win at Washington. All signs point to the Buckeyes being undefeated heading into their matchup vs. Michigan. Every Buckeye knows the assignment in The Game.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl

Alabama vs. TBD

Alabama escaped an upset scare on the road against South Carolina on Saturday. The Crimson Tide scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to overcome the Gamecocks and improve to 7-1 on the season.

Kalen DeBoer’s squad is now one of the highest-ranked teams in the country with an arguably unrivaled resume. The one blemish — a loss to Florida State to begin the season — is still a low-point, but DeBoer’s squad hasn’t lost since,.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl

Indiana vs. TBD

Indiana is 8-0 for the second straight season under head coach Curt Cignetti. However, the Hoosiers have something they didn’t have one year ago: a win over a playoff contender.

The Hoosiers’ win over Oregon on the road earlier this month was the signature win Indiana has been looking for. Now, the potential of an Ohio State-Indiana Big Ten title game is well within reach. 

CFP Quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl

Texas A&M vs. TBD

Texas A&M defeated LSU handily in Death Valley on Saturday. They’re now 8-0 for the first time in over three decades.

Second-year head coach Mike Elko has helped the program live up to expectations and then some this season. Based on this projection, the Aggies don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

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
Southern Miss vs. Toledo

68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
8:30 p.m., ESPN
East Carolina vs. Arkansas State

Friday, Dec. 19

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

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

Monday, Dec. 22

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

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. James Madison

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Frisco, Texas
9 p.m., ESPN
Rice vs. Marshall

Wednesday, Dec. 24

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

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
Louisville vs. Navy

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

Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
2:15 p.m., ESPN
Wake Forest vs. Temple

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

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. Coastal Carolina

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m. ABC
Clemson 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
Kennesaw State vs. Kansas State

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

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
Tennessee 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. Cincinnati

Friday, Jan. 2

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

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

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

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