- Virginia makes the playoff: The Cavaliers will make the playoff if they win the ACC Championship over Duke.
- Texas Tech gets a bye: The Red Raiders secure a first-round bye with an 11-1 record.
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Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Before the games kick off in conference championship weekend, here’s what PFF’s updated playoff bracket would look like based on our top 25 for the week.
Byes
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State finally got the monkey off its back with a 27-9 victory over archrival Michigan. Julian Sayin showed why he deserves to be the Heisman Trophy favorite with an 83.8 PFF grade and three passing touchdowns. He’ll have an opportunity to lock up the award in the Big Ten Championship Game against second-ranked Indiana, the biggest game of the college football season.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana finished the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record after its 56-3 win over Purdue on Black Friday. The Hoosiers’ run defense was dominant in the win, allowing -0.5 yards before contact per attempt.
Indiana takes on top-ranked Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. That game won’t just decide the Big Ten champion: It’ll also determine who gets the top seed in the College Football Playoff and could decide whether Sayin or Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy.
3. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia won Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate against Georgia Tech by a 16-9 final score. The Bulldogs held the Yellow Jackets to just 76 yards and missed just one tackle in run defense. Georgia will play in its fifth straight SEC Championship Game against Alabama.
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech shut out West Virginia in the regular season finale, winning 49-0. The Red Raiders’ elite defense held the Mountaineers to just 3.1 yards per play in the victory. Texas Tech will play in its first Big 12 Championship Game against BYU.
First Round
5. Texas A&M Aggies vs. 12. James Madison Dukes
Texas A&M suffered its first loss of the season against No. 16 Texas by a 27-17 final score. Marcel Reed struggled in the loss, posting just a 49.7 PFF passing grade from a clean pocket. The Aggies now won’t play in the SEC Championship Game and are likely going to miss out on a first-round bye altogether.
James Madison remains the Group of Five favorite for us after its 59-10 win over Coastal Carolina. The Dukes held the Chanticleers to just 170 total yards in the game, averaging 2.7 yards per play allowed.
6. Ole Miss Rebels vs. 11. Virginia Cavaliers
Ole Miss completed its greatest regular season since 1962 with a 38-19 win over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the bigger story for them comes off the field. Head coach Lane Kiffin accepted an offer from LSU and won’t coach Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding has taken over as the school’s permanent head coach.
Virginia advanced to its first ACC Championship Game in six years after its 27-7 win over Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers’ run defense shut down the Hokies ground game, permitting just 0.5 yards before contact per attempt. If Virginia takes down 7-5 Duke in Charlotte, it’ll make its first playoff appearance in school history.
7. Oregon Ducks vs. 10. Alabama Crimson Tide
Oregon clinched a home game in the first round of the College Football Playoff with a 26-14 win over Washington. Dante Moore generated an 83.9 PFF passing grade in the victory with 286 passing yards.
Alabama survived the Iron Bowl, winning 27-20 over Auburn. The Crimson Tide’s defense came up clutch in the victory, forcing a couple of turnovers inside of the 30-yard line. Alabama will try to beat Georgia once again in the SEC Championship Game this week.
8. BYU Cougars vs. 9. Oklahoma Sooners
BYU finished the regular season 11-1 with a 41-21 win over UCF. Bear Bachmeier continued his stellar true freshman season with an 80.5 PFF grade in the victory.
The Cougars look to avenge their only loss of the year against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game. BYU likely has to win that showdown in order to make its first College Football Playoff appearance.
Oklahoma clinched its first playoff spot in six years with a 17-13 win over LSU. The Sooners’ defense was outstanding in the victory, surrendering just nine first downs while forcing the Tigers to punt nine times.
