Uncover the CBS Sports College Football Playoff Picture

Week 14 and Beyond

In this week's college football landscape, CBS Sports' projections take center stage. The College Football Playoff selection committee's rankings, which have been a staple since 2014, will soon transform into seedings to determine the 12-team bracket. The five highest-ranked conference champions earn a spot, with the four highest getting first-round byes and the next seven rounding out the field. This unique system leads to differences between the rankings and the final seedings, as seen with Ohio State. Despite being the No. 2-ranked team initially, their projected conference champion status led to a drop to the No. 5 seed.

As we enter conference championship weekend, Oregon remains the lone unbeaten at the power conference level. The Ducks are set to face Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and a win would secure them a first-round bye. Even a loss doesn't completely rule out the possibility of hosting a first-round playoff game. Georgia, on the other hand, goes into the SEC Championship Game with a chance to clinch a first-round bye with a win. While a loss is not out of the question, it seems less likely compared to Oregon.

ACC and Mountain West Championships

After Miami's fall last week, SMU's opponent in the ACC Championship Game shifted from the Hurricanes to the Clemson Tigers. This creates a compelling contest that was not part of the regular season. For SMU, a win is crucial to make it into the playoffs, as a loss could cause them to fall in the rankings and miss the cut line. Boise State faces a similar situation in the Mountain West Championship Game. They must beat UNLV to secure a playoff spot, but their high ranking gives them a chance to earn a bye as the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion.

Miami and Ohio State's Fates

Despite losing on Saturday, CBS Sports has Miami making the College Football Playoff field as the final team in. Led by potential Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward, the Hurricanes' story is one to watch. Ohio State, on the other hand, checks in as the final host team in the first round despite falling in the regular-season finale against Michigan. This could be a nice consolation prize for missing the Big Ten title game, and it will likely lead to some interesting resume comparisons with other teams.

Other Conference Contenders

Penn State, despite losing to Oregon in the Big Ten title game, is still expected to be a top hosting team according to CBS Sports. Indiana, with a somewhat weak resume compared to other teams, has managed to make it into the playoffs at 11-1 in a power conference. Arizona State has quietly surged into playoff positioning, jumping up to No. 10 in the rankings after a Big 12 title win. Notre Dame, after bouncing back from an early-season loss, also reaches the playoffs at 11-1 and could host a first-round game.

Remaining Postseason Bowl Projections

Looking ahead to the postseason, there are a plethora of bowl games lined up. From the Bahamas Bowl to the New Orleans Bowl, each game offers its own unique matchups and storylines. The various conferences and teams are vying for postseason glory, and CBS Sports' predictions provide a glimpse into the potential matchups and outcomes.