ESPN ranks Top 24 teams with highest chance to make College Football Playoff after Week 8

Week 8 proved to be a pivotal week when it comes to the College Football Playoff. As it stands, the 12-team race is wide open heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

In its fallout, ESPN has re-ranked its top 24 teams with the highest percentage to make the College Football Playoff heading into Week 9. Notably, this model takes into consideration the new College Football Playoff seeding format. This season, the 12-team field will consist of the top-five highest-ranked conference champions as well as seven at-large teams. The top-four highest-ranked teams will receive first-round byes.

With that in mind, ESPN has overhauled its Allstate Playoff Predictor heading into Week 9. Here’s how the list shakes up.

1. Ohio State 96%

The Buckeyes have looked every bit the national championship squad they were believed to be this preseason. So far, they’ve dominated their competition.

Perhaps more importantly, Ohio State is dominating their Big Ten opponents on a weekly basis. They’ve outscored their conference foes 134-25 and are 4-0 in conference play to round out their October slate.

2. Indiana 94%

Indiana’s win over Oregon during Week 7 set the Hoosiers up to be able to control its destiny for the rest of the season. Now viewed as a legitimate contender, the Hoosiers can win out during the regular season and would likely take on the Buckeyes in the conference championship game.

Even with a loss against Ohio State, the Hoosiers will likely, at worst, host a first-round playoff game. That’s something they weren’t able to do last season as they traveled to Notre Dame for the opening round.

3. Alabama 90%

Four consecutive wins over ranked SEC opponents has completely nullified the Week 1 loss to Florida State. The Seminoles have fallen off, but the Crimson Tide haven’t looked back since the opening loss.

Winning six in a row, the Crimson Tide may be the best team in the SEC right now. With the streak they’re on and the teams they’ve beat, it’s hard to consider another team playing better than Alabama through eight weeks. Unless you’re undefeated.

4. Texas A&M 84%

Texas A&M is 7-0 and sit alone atop the SEC standings after nine weeks. Still, Alabama has a greater percent chance to make the playoffs this season, per the CFP predictor.

The Aggies are off to their best start since 1994, but have a long way to go before they can finish the regular season undefeated. Texas A&M still has matchups against LSU, Missouri and Texas down the stretch, and won’t play Alabama during the regular season.

5. Georgia 82%

Georgia’s 43-35 win over Oe Miss during Week 8 helped propel the Bulldogs to No. 5 in the latest AP poll ahead of Week 9. The Bulldogs have won three straight after their loss to Alabama last month.

Looking ahead, the Bulldogs still have matchups against Texas and in-state rival Georgia Tech in what has turned into a potential top-10 showdown. Both matchups could help boost the Bulldogs’ standing with the CFP committee as the postseason creeps closer.

6. Oregon 76%

Oregon took out its frustration on Rutgers last week, defeating the Scarlet Knights 56-10 during Week 8. The win improved the Ducks to 6-1 on the season.

Still, Oregon no longer controls its fate in the Big Ten championship race after its loss to Indiana just over a week ago. The good news for Ducks fans — Oregon won’t play another ranked team until the postseason as it stands.

7. BYU 52%

BYU became the last undefeated team in the Big 12 Conference following Texas Tech’s loss to Arizona State on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Cougars improved to 7-0 with a victory over its ranked in-state rival Utah 24-21.

The Cougars and Red Raiders will meet on Nov. 8 in a matchup that will have major conference championship implications. Two weeks later, they’ll hit the road to play an all-of-the-sudden ranked Cincinnati team that’s still in the mix as well.

8. Ole Miss 49%

Ole Miss tasted defeated for the first time on Saturday with its loss to Georgia. Despite this, the Rebels are ranked No. 8 in the latest AP poll.

They’ll have another opportunity to prove themselves against high-level competition as the Rebels travel to Oklahoma to play the Sooners in Norman. After that, it should be smooth sailing for Ole Miss for the rest of the regular season.

9. USF 46%

Memphis lost to UAB last week, setting USF as the Group of Five team to beat in the College Football Playoff race. However, the two programs will meet this weekend (at Memphis) to perhaps decide the frontrunner for the G5 CFP bid.

With the Bulls’ lone loss coming to Miami on the road, if USF can win out then they’re in as the fifth-highest ranked conference champion. Still, there’s a lot of football to be played between now and the selection show, and many opportunities for an upset.

10. Miami 44%

Miami was stunned by Louisville on Friday night, losing its first game of the season in heartbreaking fashion. Still, the Hurricanes are a top-10 team in the latest AP poll and by many accounts, are still a playoff contender.

Luckily for the Hurricanes, they won’t play another ranked opponent for the rest of the regular season. With three wins over ranked opponents this season, a one-loss Miami team will almost certainly make the final field of 12.

11. Oklahoma 43%
12. Texas Tech 42%
13. Georgia Tech 41%
14. Texas 39%
15. Vanderbilt 34%
16. Missouri 32%
17. Notre Dame 30%
18. Tennessee 18%
19. USC 15%
20. Michigan 15%
21. LSU 15%
22. Illinois 15%
23. Virginia 14%
24. North Texas 14%