College Football Playoff, 2022 New Year’s Six projections after Week 3

Hail Mary’s, holy beatdowns, and the death of a rivalry. College football is doing its thing at the quarter mark of the season. We continue to see the Georgia Bulldogs lay waste to any team put in front of them, while the Big Ten and PAC-12 each had big wins to boost their conference, and does anybody want the Group of Five bid this year?

Here are the Week 3 projections for the New Year’s Six, including the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Cotton Bowl

Cincinnati v Kentucky

Previous Week

Air Force v Kentucky 

The Group of Five is an absolute mess right now. Air Force blew a late lead at Wyoming, ending their hopes of a NY6 bid. Marshall, fresh off a “big” win over Notre Dame, lost at Bowling Green. SMU, the last realistic hope for an undefeated AAC champ, lost at Maryland. It is clear this is one of the weaker years for the Group of Five.

With losses flying all over the place, we’re going with the most consistent team and best coach, Cincinnati and Luke Fickell. This team is not as good as the previous two years, but they’re the most complete team and the best defense of the contenders.

The Bearcats projected opponent, the Kentucky Wildcats, shut out Youngstown State 31-0. The Wildcat defense continues to look dominant, while Will Levis continues to control the game with his arm and his legs. Kentucky will take on Northern Illinois before heading to Oxford for a massive SEC showdown with Ole Miss. For now, they look like the third-best team in the SEC, and we’re 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.