The SEC shuffle continued in Week 11, and the excitement is palpable! With Ole Miss pulling off a stunning 28-10 victory over Georgia, the Rebels have opened up a potential playoff path from their No. 11 seed. This raises the question: would you back the Rebels against Penn State, especially considering they triumphed in last season’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with a score of 38-25?
Playoff Predictions Heat Up
As we look ahead, imagine a semifinal showdown between Texas and Ole Miss. The Longhorns made a statement this past Saturday by dismantling the Gators 49-17, with quarterback Quinn Ewers throwing for an impressive 333 yards and five touchdowns. This performance has positioned Texas as our projected SEC champion. The thought of a matchup between Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin, both former Alabama offensive coordinators under Nick Saban, is tantalizing. Who do you think would come out on top in that clash?
The second set of College Football Playoff rankings will be unveiled on Tuesday, and fans are eagerly awaiting the updates. Sporting News will provide weekly bowl projections leading up to the unveiling of the first-ever 12-team playoff field on December 8.
Upcoming Bowl Schedule
Mark your calendars! The first round of the new College Football Playoff will feature one game on Friday, December 20, and three matches on Saturday, December 21. The quarterfinals will take place at iconic venues: the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on December 31, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and Allstate Sugar Bowl, all on January 1. The semifinals are set for the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9 and the Cotton Bowl Classic on January 10, culminating in the CFP national championship on January 20 in Atlanta.
College Football Playoff first-round predictions
Let’s dive into our first-round predictions for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff season. The matchups are shaping up to be thrilling, with four games scheduled to be played on campus:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
| Dec. 20 | First-Round CFP game | No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Indiana |
| Dec. 21 | First-Round CFP game | No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State |
| Dec. 21 | First-Round CFP game | No. 11 Ole Miss vs. No. 6 Penn State |
| Dec. 21 | First-Round CFP game | No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Tennessee |
Three Big Ten teams will host first-round playoff games, but how much will weather impact these matchups? The conditions for Boise State traveling to Columbus may not be drastically different, but can you imagine Ole Miss facing off in Happy Valley? That could be a game-changer! Notably, six of these teams rank in the top 10 for scoring defense in the FBS, with Alabama and Boise State being the exceptions.
Quarterfinal and Semifinal Matchups
Now, let’s explore our predictions for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups. These games will take place at the prestigious New Year’s Day Six bowl sites:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
| Dec. 31 | Vrbo Fiesta Bowl | No. 3 BYU vs. No. 11 Ole Miss |
| Jan. 1 | Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl | No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 Ohio State |
| Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential | No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 9 Notre Dame |
| Jan. 1 | Allstate Sugar Bowl | No. 2 Texas vs. No. 10 Alabama |
Could we see some upsets in the first round? We predict Ole Miss will edge out Penn State, while Notre Dame might surprise Indiana. If the Rebels face BYU in the Fiesta Bowl, they could be favored, but the trip out West may pose challenges. Notre Dame’s journey to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl would mark their first visit since 1925, and the sight of those iconic gold helmets would be a treat for fans.
Looking ahead to the semifinals, we anticipate thrilling matchups as well:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
| Jan. 9 | Capital One Orange Bowl | No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 5 Ohio State |
| Jan. 10 | Cotton Bowl Classic | No. 2 Texas vs. No. 11 Ole Miss |
This setup guarantees an SEC vs. Big Ten showdown in the championship game. With Ole Miss ranking among the top 10 in both scoring offense and defense, they are a formidable contender.
Championship Game Preview
Finally, let’s look ahead to the College Football Playoff championship matchup scheduled for January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
| Jan. 20 | CFP National Championship | No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Texas |
Last week, we predicted a matchup between Oregon and Georgia, but the landscape has shifted. Georgia is no longer in our playoff projections, and the Longhorns have regained their dominant form. Ohio State and Oregon would be an intriguing rematch, but we’re leaning towards the Buckeyes given their playoff path. Ewers, who began his career at Ohio State, would have a chance to come full circle in this championship game.
With the playoff picture becoming clearer, the excitement for college football is at an all-time high! Who will rise to the occasion and claim the ultimate prize? The countdown to the playoffs has begun!
