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College Football Playoff and NY6 bowl projections for Week 13

By Michael Thompson

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans hugs Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans after defeating the UCLA Bruins in the game at Rose Bowl on November 19, 2022 in Pasadena, California. The USC Trojans defeated the UCLA Bruins with a score of 48 to 45. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans hugs Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans after defeating the UCLA Bruins in the game at Rose Bowl on November 19, 2022 in Pasadena, California. The USC Trojans defeated the UCLA Bruins with a score of 48 to 45. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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As we look ahead to Week 13 of the college football season, we have a pretty clear understanding of who’s left in the College Football Playoff chase, after the latest rankings were revealed.

From top-ranked Georgia, down to USC at No. 7, that is where our playoff is coming from.

Here is Week 13’s projection for the New Year’s Six, including the College Football Playoff and the national title game.

Cotton Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Tennessee 

Previous: UCF vs. USC 

Central Florida, one week after an impressive win at Tulane, laid a massive egg against Navy. The loss eliminated UCF from contention for a NY6 bid, which opened the door for Tulane or Cincinnati to make the jump.

Tulane is currently ranked higher at No. 19 while Cincinnati sits at No. 24. It’s very possible this game could be a rematch in the AAC championship. Cincinnati has been the class of the conference for so long, and we’re going to project them to hold up at home for the next two weeks.

I’m not sure there has been a more Shakespearean story this year than what we’ve seen from Tennessee. A team with little expectations to start the year, rode a magical offense all the way up to the No. 1 ranked team in the country. Fast forward a couple of weeks, and they get thrashed by Georgia and rocked by South Carolina. Their playoff hopes are gone, as well as their quarterback Hendon Hooker, to an ACL injury.

The Volunteers will now turn to Michigan transfer Joe Milton to help them finish the season strong. A road trip at Vanderbilt looks much tougher now than a few weeks ago. If they win, they’ll likely earn the final at-large bid available, and we should be looking at a wild Cotton Bowl where anything can happen.

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