- The playoff bracket remains the same as last week: The exact bracket from Week 13 is intact this week.
- Notre Dame is on the outside looking in: The Fighting Irish still aren’t in PFF’s playoff bracket going into the team’s final game against Stanford.
- Get PFF+ for 40% off: Use promo code BLACKFRIDAY to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season.
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
With less than two weeks left until the College Football Playoff is announced, the playoff picture becomes clearer every week.
Before the games kick off in the final weekend of the regular season, 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 took care of business with a 42-9 win over Rutgers in Week 13. The Buckeyes’ defense was dominant in the victory, allowing just -0.479 EPA per play and 2.7 yards per play
Ohio State heads into a colossal showdown this week with its archrival in No. 14 Michigan. A victory for the Buckeyes would send them to the Big Ten Championship Game next week against Indiana.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana was off in Week 13 and closes out its regular season on the road against Purdue. If the Hoosiers or Ohio State win, Indiana will go to its first Big Ten Championship Game in program history.
Texas A&M shut out Samford by a 48-0 final score. The Aggies only allowed 92 yards from the Bulldogs and just 1.9 yards per play.
Texas A&M finishes its regular season on the road against Texas on Friday night. If the Aggies win, or if Alabama and Ole Miss both lose, Texas A&M goes to its first SEC Championship Game in program history.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia beat Charlotte by a 35-3 final score in Week 13. The Bulldogs earned a 90.8 defensive grade in the win, their best mark in four years.
Georgia travels to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech on Black Friday. In order for the Bulldogs to remain in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game the following week, they need either Texas A&M or Alabama to lose.
First Round
5. Ole Miss Rebels vs. 12. James Madison Dukes
Ole Miss was off in Week 13 and closes out its regular season in the Egg Bowl against archrival Mississippi State on Friday.
The Rebels need to win, Texas A&M to lose and Alabama. to lose in order to play in their first ever SEC Championship Game. It’s also expected that head coach Lane Kiffin will announce his future plans on Saturday following the Egg Bowl.
James Madison remains the highest-ranked Group of Five team after its 24-20 win over Washington State in Week 13. Even though the Dukes hold this Group of Five spot for now, it would help them if there were some chaos in the American Conference in the form of Tulane and/or North Texas losses in Week 14.
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. 11. Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Texas Tech had a bye in Week 13 and finishes its regular season on the road against West Virginia. If the Red Raiders win or Arizona State loses, Texas Tech will play in its first Big 12 Championship Game in program history.
Miami remains our highest-ranked ACC team with a 34-17 win over Virginia Tech. Quarterback Carson Beck posted a 90.5 PFF passing grade in the victory, his second straight week with a 90.0-plus passing grade.
Even though the Hurricanes hold this spot for now, they still need help in order to reach the ACC Championship Game.
7. Oregon Ducks vs. 10. Alabama Crimson Tide
Oregon won the biggest game of Week 13 by taking down No. 15 USC by a 42-27 final score. Quarterback Dante Moore was phenomenal in the win, posting a 90.0 PFF grade with an 86.2% adjusted completion rate.
Oregon finishes its regular season on the road against Washington. In order for the Ducks to head to Indianapolis to defend their Big Ten championship, they need to win and an Ohio State loss.
Alabama wrapped up its nonconference slate with a 56-0 shutout win over Eastern Illinois. The Crimson Tide only surrendered 34 total yards from the Panthers, averaging just 0.9 yards per play.
Alabama now only must win the Iron Bowl against Auburn in order to reach the SEC Championship Game.
8. BYU Cougars vs. 9. Oklahoma Sooners
BYU went on the road and beat Cincinnati 26-14 in Week 13. Running back LJ Martin had a career day, running for 222 yards and two touchdowns with 119 yards after contact.
The Cougars now just need to beat UCF or Arizona State to lose in Week 14 in order to reach their first Big 12 Championship Game.
Oklahoma kept its playoff hopes alive with a 17-6 win over No. 22 Missouri. The Sooners’ run defense shut down Ahmad Hardy and the Tigers’ elite rushing attack, giving up just 48 rushing yards after the first drive of the game.
Oklahoma now just needs to defeat LSU in Week 14 in order to make its first College Football Playoff appearance in six years.
