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College Football Playoff, New Year’s Six Bowl projections after Week 9

By Michael Thompson

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 29: Jordan Hancock #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after a play against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 29, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 29: Jordan Hancock #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after a play against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 29, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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As we conclude week nine of the college football season, we have officially entered the stretch run, with the College Football Playoff rankings here every Tuesday until the final rankings are revealed after conference championship week.

Tennessee, the most dominant team of the season so far, took the top spot but will be faced with the ultimate test this week at #3 Georgia. #2 Ohio State and #4 Clemson round out the rest of the initial projected field. We still have some huge games coming up, and much can change.

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

Cotton Bowl

UCF v UCLA

Previous: Cincinnati v USC

Cincinnati, the class of the Group of Five for the past few seasons, suffered their first AAC conference loss since 2019 in a 25-21 loss at UCF. It marked the likely end of Cincinnati’s stranglehold on the conference and in turn, the automatic qualifier to a NY6 bowl.

When the rankings were released last night, Tulane was the highest-ranked team among the Group of 5, sitting at #19. Tulane is a really fun team and a cool story, but I’m projecting the second-highest-ranked team, #25 UCF to eventually take the top spot and a seat at the Cotton Bowl.

Under Gus Malzahn, the Golden Knights slayed the Cincinnati dragon and while they have two disappointing losses, they also have the biggest win and most talented roster. With Ole Miss transfer QB John Rhys Plumlee running the Malzahn offense, the classic overwhelming speed and running game is starting bro round into shape.

Tulane will get to host UCF in a few weeks, and will likely be favored, but give me the Knights to win the game and eventually the G5 bid.

Joining them in the Cotton Bowl as a newcomer to the NY6 is Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins. Other than a convincing loss at #8 Oregon, the Bruins have been dominant all season long, led by QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and his 22 total touchdowns.

While USC continues to struggle defensively against the weak teams of the PAC 12, I believe the Bruins will defeat the Trojans at the end of the season and will end up at the Cotton Bowl.

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