College Football Playoff Prediction: ESPN projects CFP Top 12 rankings after Week 4

Week 4 delivered another exciting slate of college football games as many teams kicked off their conference play. On Sunday, ESPN’s Heather Dinich released her updated College Football Playoff rankings, along with a new bracket projection.

Only three ranked teams suffered losses this weekend and none of them were against unranked opponents. Alas, Dinich’s rankings saw several seismic shifts, including a new No. 1.

Of course, there’s plenty of time for Dinich’s new top-ranked team to be dethroned. With 12 teams to cover, let’s dive into Dinich’s latest CFP rankings.

1. Miami Hurricanes (+1)

The Miami Hurricanes secured the top spot in Dinich’s CFP rankings this week after cruising to a 26-7 win over Florida. In the win, Miami’s defense shined, holding the Gators to 141 total yards of offense.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck had a relatively quiet day, but running back Mark Fletcher Jr. picked up his slack. Fletcher tallied 116 yards and a touchdown in the victory. CharMar Brown didn’t trail far behind, notching 80 rushing yards and two scores.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (-1)

Ohio State fell one spot in Dinich’s CFP rankings this week, but to no fault of its own. The Buckeyes enjoyed a bye this week after dominating Ohio 37-9 in Week 3.

In the win, star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith reeled in nine catches for a team-high 153 yards and a touchdown. Carnell Tate didn’t trail far behind, racking up five catches for 101 yards and a score. The Buckeyes have shown no signs of weakness thus far this season.

3. Georgia Bulldogs

Despite also being on a bye this weekend, Georgia didn’t move in Dinich’s CFP rankings. In fairness, Georgia’s 44-41 win over Tennessee in Week 3 was seriously impressive.

It was a statement performance from UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton, who completed 23-of-his-31 pass attempts for 304 yards and two TDs, without throwing an interception. Additionally, Stockton notched 38 yards and a score in the ground game.

4. Florida State Seminoles (+3)

After enjoying a bye in Week 3, Florida State picked up right where it left off on Saturday, running away with a 66-10 win over Kent State. While the Golden Flashes are far from elite competition, Florida State’s performance was praiseworthy, nonetheless.

In the triumph, Florida State racked up a ridiculous 775 yards of total offense. The Seminoles’ run game carried the lion’s share of the production. Eight Florida State players recorded 30 or more rushing yards against Kent State.

5. LSU Tigers (-1)

LSU handled business in its 56-10 blowout win over SE Louisiana on Saturday. Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier thrived, completing 25-of-his-31 pass attempts for 273 yards and three touchdowns, without throwing an interception.

Nussmeier wasn’t shy to share the love. Three LSU receivers logged over 50 receiving yards in the win. On the other side of the ball, LSU’s defense held SE Louisiana to just 205 total yards of offense. LSU is only allowing 246.3 yards per game this season, the 17th-least in the country.

6. Texas A&M Aggies (-1)

The Aggies had a much-earned bye week this week. In Week 3, Texas A&M marched into South Bend and escaped with a stunning 41-40 win over Notre Dame. On fourth-and-goal from Notre Dame’s 11-yard line, Aggies QB Marcel Reed completed a game-winning TD pass to Nate Boerkircher with 13 seconds remaining in the game.

Although Boerkircher made the biggest catch of the game, no Texas A&M receiver outshined Mario Craver. The sophomore wideout hauled in seven catches for a ridiculous 206 yards and a touchdown.

7. Oklahoma Sooners (+2)

Oklahoma continues to impress. In its latest outing, the Sooners downed Auburn 24-17. It was personal for the Sooners, who were facing off against former teammate and now-Auburn QB Jackson Arnold.

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer ultimately outplayed his predecessor, recording 271 passing yards and a touchdown. Additionally, Mateer collected 29 yards and a score in the ground game. Oklahoma sacked Arnold nine times in the win.

8. Oregon Ducks (-2)

Oregon has steamrolled its competition thus far this season, and this Saturday was no exception. The Ducks strolled to a 41-7 win over in-state rival Oregon State in Week 4. The Ducks have the second-highest scoring margin in the country this season.

In the win over Oregon State, Ducks quarterback Dante Moore completed 21-of-his-31 pass attempts for 305 yards and four touchdowns, while throwing no interceptions. Wide receivers Gary Bryant Jr. and Dakorien Moore combined for 128 receiving yards.

9. Penn State Nittany Lions (-1)

Much like Oregon, Penn State hasn’t faced a high-level opponent yet this season. Alas, there’s not much to fault the Nittany Lions on, either. After all, Penn State boasts an average margin of victory of 38.3 points per game.

Most recently, Penn State handed Villanova a 52-6 shellacking in Week 3. In the win, Penn State running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton combined for 170 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

10. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee bounced back from its Week 3 loss against Georgia with a comfortable 56-24 win over UAB on Saturday. In the triumph, Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar logged 218 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Tennessee’s defense squeezed two turnovers out of UAB. However, the unit also gave up 394 total yards to the Dragons. Tennessee will look to pick up its first SEC of the win this season when it takes on Mississippi State on Sept. 27.

11. Indiana Hoosiers (NR)

Indiana leapt into Dinich’s CFP rankings this week after routing Illinois 63-10 on Saturday. In the jaw-dropping victory, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed 21-of-his-23 pass attempts for 267 yards and five touchdowns. He didn’t throw a single interception.

Indiana finished the game with 579 yards of total offense. The Hoosiers’ defense was just as impressive, holding the Fighting Illini to nine total first downs throughout the game. Indiana was disciplined in the outing, only committing two penalties for a loss of 10 yards.

12. Texas Tech Red Raiders (NR)

Texas Tech is the favorite to win the Big 12 after downing Utah 34-10 this weekend. A star was born in the battle. Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond replaced Behren Morton in the third quarter after he suffered an injury.

Hammond didn’t shrink under the spotlight. Instead, Hammond was phenomenal completing 13-of-16 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receivers Reggie Virgil and J’Koby Williams combined for eight catches, 143 yards and a touchdown.

ESPN’s CFP Bracket Projection

First-round byes

No. 1 Miami (ACC champ)
No. 2 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 3 Georgia (SEC champ)
No. 4 Florida State

First-round games

On campus, Dec. 19 and 20

No. 12 Memphis (American champ) at No. 5 LSU
No. 11 Texas Tech (Big 12 champ) at No. 6 Texas A&M
No. 10 Tennessee at No. 7 Oklahoma
No. 9 Penn State at No. 8 Oregon

Quarterfinal games

At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

No. 12 Memphis/No. 5 LSU winner vs. No. 4 Florida State
No. 11 Texas Tech/No. 6 Texas A&M winner vs. No. 3 Georgia
No. 10 Tennessee/No. 7 Oklahoma winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
No. 9 Penn State/No. 8 Oregon winner vs. No. 1 Miami