College Football Playoff, New Year’s Six Bowl projections after Week 5

College Football Playoff

Peach Bowl

1 Alabama v 4 Clemson

Fiesta Bowl

2 Ohio State vs 3 Georgia

Same as last week, in my projected playoff, I have the four dominant programs of the past decade all making the dance.

The projected fourth-seeded Clemson Tigers took care of business against two underrated opponents in Wake Forest and NC State. The road remains difficult for Dabo Swinney, however, as they will travel to an improved Florida State, Syracuse, and still have to travel to South Bend which is never easy.

I still believe in the steady improvement of D.J. Uiagalelei and so I believe Clemson runs the table, making another CFP, even if this team isn’t in the same class as previous Clemson squads.

It wouldn’t be a Clemson playoff without them having to face Nick Saban and Alabama. Alabama has looked strong in their two tune-up victories before the meat of their road victory over Arkansas, even with Bryce Young’s health in question. The defense is still dominant, and transfer running back Jahmyr Gibbs carried the Tide to victory, running for over 200 yards.

The schedule is a gauntlet for Bama, as they host Texas A&M and Mississippi State while traveling to Tennessee, LSU, and Ole Miss over their next five games. If they go 5-0, a loss in the SEC championship likely doesn’t keep Bama out of the CFP.

On the other half of the bracket, I have Ohio State returning after missing out on the playoff last year. Right now, I don’t think there’s a better offense in the country than Ohio State. Everyone talks about CJ Stroud and for a good reason, but the Buckeyes showed how well they can run the ball in a 49-10 destruction of Ohio State. Running back Miyan Williams rumbled his way to nearly 200 total yards and five…yes, FIVE touchdowns. The tests are coming, but until then, the Buckeyes look like one of the best teams in the country.

Facing off against the Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl is third-seeded Georgia. The Bulldogs nearly fell asleep at the wheel in a 26-22 escape over Missouri. The Tigers led by two scores for most of the game before getting too conservative at the end. Maybe this was a wake-up call for the champs, maybe there’s more to it. Either way, they’ll need to be better if they want to beat Anthony Richardson and Will Levis this season.

While I expect the Bulldogs to be ranked #1 or #2 for the entire regular season, their final ranking will come down to what they do in the SEC championship. Here, we’re projecting the Bulldogs will lose to Bama, fall to the #3 seed, and hope to repeat 2021 all over again.

College Football Playoff National Championship

1 Alabama v 2 Ohio State

Five weeks into our projections, and we continue to hold the line: Alabama vs Ohio State in the national championship. In a rematch from 2021, nearly all the pieces changed. Many teams (Georgia) will have something to say about this projection, but for now, we project the biggest stars in the game to meet in the Land of stars.