The college football season was exciting once again in Week 2. After the results, here is the projected field for the College Football Playoff.
The Week 2 schedule didn’t disappoint as top teams faced off all across the college football landscape. Only one higher seed lost, though, and it was at home in a stunner.
The Ohio State Buckeyes fell 31-16 to the Oklahoma Sooners at home. Quarterback J.T. Barrett couldn’t get it going, as he passed 19-for-35 (54.3 percent) with 183 passing yards and an interception.
Running back J.K. Dobbins scored the team’s lone touchdown of the game on a six-yard run in the third quarter. Dobbins had 72 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Parris Campbell, Binjimen Victor and Johnnie Dixon were held in check after they caught touchdown passes in Week One against the Hoosiers. Their drop out of the College Football Playoff is temporary, but they need to develop their passing game if they want to get back into it.
The Sooners solidified their place in this year’s field entering Week Three as did the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide.
This week’s newcomer is from the Pac-12 conference and after a strong showing against a familiar conference rival, it looks like they may be ready for the College Football Playoff, although it’s relatively early.
Here’s a look at this week’s College Football Playoff projections.
4. USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are a newcomer in this week’s College Football Playoff projections. After getting their first win in Pac-12 play over the Stanford Cardinal in convincing fashion, it’s hard not to put them in this year’s field, for now anyways.
Quarterback Sam Darnold completed his first 11 passes before throwing an interception and his first incompletion of the game. He finished 21-of-26 with 316 passing yards and four passing touchdowns.
The performance of wide receivers Deontay Burnett and Steven Mitchell overshadowed Darnold’s two interceptions.
Burnett caught nine passes for 121 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns to take over the game. Mitchell caught four balls for 94 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The running game was even more spectacular as Ronald Jones II and Stephen Carr ran for a combined total of 235 rushing yards. Carr averaged 10.8 rushing yards per carry while Jones II scored two rushing touchdowns. Each running back was able to showcase their abilities, making for one of the toughest running back tandems in the nation.
Darnold has the weapons on offense to win the Pac-12, he’ll just need to limit the turnovers. He’s got four touchdowns and four interceptions through two games so far.
3. Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers saw the emergence of their leader Kelly Bryant and their defensive line in their game against the Auburn Tigers. They’ll move up a spot in this week’s College Football Playoff projections as their quarterback and defense face a tough Week 3 matchup.
Quarterback Kelly Bryant didn’t have a passing touchdown in Clemson’s 14-6 victory, but he did have two rushing touchdowns, both of the Tigers’ touchdowns in the game.
Bryant ran for a 3-yard and a 27-yard touchdown on his way to 59 rushing yards on the day for the Tigers. It wasn’t much but it proved to be enough to defeat Auburn. He seemed quite adjusted in replacing the team’s unsung leader from last year’s national championship squad.
The Clemson Tigers defense was even more impressive, forcing 14 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and holding Auburn to 117 total yards of offense.
Defensive end Austin Bryant led the way for Clemson with four sacks, Christian Wilkins had two sacks and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel finished with 1.5 sacks. O’Daniel also led the defense with 14 tackles in the game. Wilkins finished with 10 tackles in the game.
Dominant was the operative word in describing the Clemson Tigers defense. They made plays all over the field to hold the Auburn offense to only six points and no touchdowns in the game.
This week, their hands are full with Pocket Lamar (Lamar Jackson) and the Louisville Cardinals. Pocket Lamar went for six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) on his way to the team’s first victory in ACC play, 47-35 over North Carolina.
2. Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners look like they’re ready for the College Football Playoff now, but they’ll have to sustain these performances if they want to make it all the way. Their 31-16 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes is their early statement victory of the season.
They seem to be in good hands with quarterback Baker Mayfield under center. Mayfield went 27-for-35 (77.1 percent) with 386 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. He didn’t throw any interceptions this go around and the offense overcame two fumbles to get the win.
The Sooners outscored the Buckeyes 28-13 in the second half, albeit on the road. The Sooners’ defense has stepped up this season so far, allowing just 11.5 points per game on defense (18th in the FBS).
Linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo finished with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks to hold the Ohio State offense at bay. They kept quarterback J.T. Barrett relatively ineffective in front of his own home fans which is huge for their confidence the rest of the season.
Head coach Lincoln Riley has looked solid so far in his debut as the Oklahoma Sooners head coach. As they face the Tulane Green Wave this week, look for them to limit their turnovers and develop the running game a bit more with ball security as a focus.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Another week, another victory for the first-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide as they remain the biggest threat in the College Football Playoff projections. They beat the Fresno State Bulldogs, 41-10.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts set the tone early for the Crimson Tide with a 55-yard run for a touchdown as their first score. Hurts finished the game with 154 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
In the passing game, he was 14-of-18 for 128 passing yards and a passing touchdown. He completed a 23-yard touchdown to tight end Hale Hentges for the first career touchdown reception of his career.
True freshman running back Najee Harris finished with 70 rushing yards to lead the way for the running backs. True freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got some snaps in last week as well. He was 6-for-9 with 64 passing yards and a passing touchdown. Wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, another true freshman, caught the first touchdown reception of his career on a 16-yard pass.
The Alabama Crimson Tide defense wasn’t full of sacks but they held the Fresno State Bulldogs to just 10 points and 287 total yards of offense. Cornerback Anthony Averett forced the lone turnover of the game with an interception.
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Week Three, they face another MWC opponent in the Colorado State Rams. They should get a challenge on offense from the Colorado State defense, but they should win another game with ease.