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College Football Playoff, 2022 New Year’s Six bowl projections after Week 4

By Michael Thompson

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: The National Championship trophy is displayed after the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: The National Championship trophy is displayed after the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Week four of the college football season proved to be judgment day for a few of the teams we have seen on our projections throughout this season. Clemson met the challenge, while Oklahoma read too many press clippings. USC survived, while Miami stayed being Miami. How much carnage did it have on our projections?

Here are the week 4 projections for the New Year’s Six, including the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Cotton Bowl

Cincinnati v USC

Previous: Cincinnati v Kentucky 

The Cincinnati Bearcats took care of business at home against Big Ten foe Indiana, 45-24. Bearcats senior QB Ben Bryant threw for over 350 yards and four scores as the Bearcats used a 28-point second quarter to crush the Hoosiers.

Bryant continues to be an adequate successor to Desmond Ridder at the QB position. With how good Arkansas has looked this season, Cincinnati looks more like they reloaded than are rebuilding in 2022. We continue to project them as the Group of Five rep for the Cotton Bowl.

The Bearcats projected opponent, the USC Trojans take a step back in my CFP projections. The Trojans have been the darlings of the media so far this season, but in their first real test going up to Oregon State, USC was lucky to get out of there with a 17-14 win. The win showed their defense can come through when needed, but we’re talking about Oregon State, not Utah or Washington. I have doubts about them holding up over the course of the season.

Can Luke Fickell get over the big bowl hump, or will Lincoln Riley and Trojans send him to 0-3 in the NY6/CFP?

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