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College Football Playoff, 2022 New Year’s Six projections after Week 2

By Michael Thompson

AUSTIN, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Bryce Young #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass from the end zone under pressure by Vernon Broughton #45 of the Texas Longhorns in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Bryce Young #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass from the end zone under pressure by Vernon Broughton #45 of the Texas Longhorns in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Here are the week 2 projections for the New Year’s Six, including the College Football Playoff National Championship.

We saw top-ranked Alabama, against the Texas Longhorns and their backup quarterback, get pushed to the absolute limit before surviving 20-19. The same can’t be said for CFP hopefuls in the always-confident Texas A&M Aggies and the offensively inept Notre Dame Fighting Irish. A failed stop on 4th & 20 doomed the Houston Cougars and put their hopes of crashing the NY6 on life alert. How will a wacky week 2 affect the playoff and bowl picture?

Cotton Bowl: Air Force v Kentucky

Previous Week: Houston v Texas A&M

An unimpressive two weeks caught up to the Houston Cougars as they lost in double overtime to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The loss leaves the Group of Five in a bit of a mess in terms of the NY6 frontrunner this early in the season.

Losses by Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF leave SMU as the one true threat to run the table out of the AAC. That conference may be too deep to expect that. Marshall and Appalachian St. are on a collision course for the Sun Belt after their massive victories this weekend, but don’t forget about Coastal Carolina wrecking the party.

I’m going with the Air Force out of the MWC. I believe the AAC and Sun Belt will cannibalize themselves, while the Falcons have a favorable conference schedule and can literally run the table with their triple-option offense.

Joining the Falcons in the Cotton Bowl is the Kentucky Wildcats out of the SEC. Behind a tremendous defensive effort and enough big plays from Will Levis, the Wildcats defeated 12th-ranked Florida, and now find themselves in the hunt for an SEC championship appearance. Road games at Ole Miss and Tennessee, plus a gigantic showdown at home against Georgia will likely decide the Wildcats’ fate, but for now, I’m projecting them to make their first NY6 bowl since 1976.

One of the best rushing attacks in the country trying to keep a 1st round QB in Levis off the field should make for a fascinating battle in the annual Cinderella v big boys bowl game.

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