Spring College Football Playoff and NY6 bowl projections

Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 31)  Ohio State vs Georgia

The Ohio State Buckeyes won 11 games last season and a Rose Bowl championship. Yet, their season was viewed as a major disappointment. That’s because of the loss to Michigan and the fact that OSU didn’t win the Big Ten for the first time since 2016.

That’s going to change in 2022. C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young are going to put forth an epic Heisman Trophy campaign, which will lead to Ohio State having one of the best offenses in the country.

The season starts against Notre Dame at home and features a road trip to East Lansing, as well as a home game against Michigan. There will be chances to slip up, however, Ohio State should be talented enough to win the Big Ten and if they do it with just one loss, they’ll be back in the College Football Playoff.

Their opponent could easily be the defending national champs. Stetson Bennett and Georgia will be a force to be reckoned with still in 2022. A win over Oregon in the season opener will set the tone and if the Bulldogs can make it through the regular season 12-0, a playoff spot will be virtually guaranteed.

Peach Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs Oklahoma

To be honest, it feels like there are four teams truly capable of winning the national championship: Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, and Texas A&M.

Michigan, Michigan State, and Notre Dame have all made the playoff but each was blown out. Oklahoma has found itself in the same boat outside of its first appearance in the Rose Bowl.

That being said, Oklahoma has a pretty favorable schedule, a talented transfer at quarterback, and a new head coach in Brent Venables who should immediately make the defense better.

Dillon Gabriel was a big get in the transfer portal and there’s a reason Oklahoma is still viewed as a top-10 team according to most preseason rankings. The Sooners have talent, more than people realize, and outside of Texas, and I guess Nebraska, its toughest games are at home.

This team is good enough to wind up as a one-loss Big 12 champion. The prize will be facing Young and Alabama, which will win the game going away.

Bama is in the same boat as Georgia. Go undefeated in the regular season or be a one-loss SEC champion. If the Crimson Tide do either, they are guaranteed a berth, and looking ahead to the 2022 college football season, it’s hard to imagine Bama, not in the College Football Playoff.