- Alabama gets a bye: After beating a top-20 team for a fourth straight week, the Crimson Tide move into the top four.
- Georgia Tech and Oklahoma join the 12-team field: The Yellow Jackets and the Sooners join the current playoff bracket after wins this weekend.
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After a chaotic Week 8, the College Football Playoff bracket has been completely shaken up. Before the games kick off in a massive Week 9, here’s what PFF’s updated bracket would look like based on our top 25 for the week.
Byes
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State continues to look head and shoulders above the rest of the country with a 34-0 shutout victory over Wisconsin. Julian Sayin had an elite 91.6 PFF passing grade in the win with a 90% adjusted completion rate. The redshirt freshman now leads all quarterbacks in the nation with a 92.0 PFF grade this season.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana took care of business with a 38-13 victory over Michigan State. Fernando Mendoza showed why he’s the current betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy with a 90.1 PFF grade, his highest against an FBS opponent of his career. The Hoosiers take on UCLA this week, a school that’s won its last three games after starting 0-4.
Texas A&M barely escaped Arkansas’ upset bid with a 45-42 victory. Quarterback Marcel Reed posted a season-high 82.3 PFF grade in the win with two big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays. The Aggies put their undefeated record to the test in Week 9 as they go on the road to No. 20 LSU.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama moves up a spot following its 37-20 win over No. 11 Tennessee. It’s the Crimson Tide’s fourth straight victory over a top-20 opponent. Alabama’s offensive line thrived against the Volunteers’ strong pass rush with an 89.6 PFF pass-blocking grade with only five pressures allowed.
First Round
5. Georgia Bulldogs vs. 12. USF Bulls
Georgia moves into the top five after its 43-35 win over fifth-ranked Ole Miss. Gunner Stockton recorded a career-high 90.9 PFF grade in the victory with an 89.7% adjusted completion rate, three big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays.
With Memphis losing to UAB, USF is the clear Group of Five favorite right now. The Bulls took care of business with a 48-13 win over FAU this past weekend. Byrum Brown recorded a 90.6 PFF grade in the victory with three big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays. USF has a massive showdown in Week 9 against the aforementioned Memphis Tigers.
6. Oregon Ducks vs. 11. Oklahoma Sooners
Oregon was out for blood following its loss to Indiana last week with a 56-10 win over Rutgers. Dante Moore had a career-high 93.2 PFF grade in the victory with five big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays.
Oklahoma is back in the 12-team playoff field with a 26-7 win over South Carolina. The Sooners’ defense excelled in the victory with only 3.6 yards per play allowed. Oklahoma plays in arguably the biggest game of Week 9 against Ole Miss.
BYU moves into the top 10 after its 24-21 win over No. 23 Utah in the Holy War. The Cougars’ defense stepped up when it mattered most, holding the Utes to just 20% on fourth-down tries.
Ole Miss falls down a few spots after its 43-35 defeat to ninth-ranked Georgia. The Rebels generated a season-low 61.1 defensive grade in the loss, as the Bulldogs scored on every single possession.
8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. 9. Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Georgia Tech is also in the top 10 with its first 7-0 start to a season since 1966. The Yellow Jackets did so with a 27-18 victory over Duke. Haynes King accrued a season-high 86.7 PFF passing grade in the win while also running for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Miami falls down seven spots to No. 9 after its 24-21 win over Louisville. Carson Beck threw a career-high four interceptions in the loss with four turnover-worthy plays and a season-low 46.2 PFF passing grade.
