Bowl Projections 2024: Updated CFP Bracket Predictions for Week 12

The battle for the SEC championship is heating up, and that race is having an impact on the projected field for the College Football Playoff. Things got even tighter this past Saturday, when Ole Miss scored an upset win at home against Georgia.

The Bulldogs still have a path to the CFP. But they're also facing a must-win game this Saturday, when they host Tennessee, another playoff contender jockeying for position near the top of the SEC standings.

With three weeks to go in the college football regular season (as well as conference championship week), here's a breakdown of the current projected CFP field ahead of Tuesday night's rankings release.

1. Oregon (10-0, 7-0 in Big Ten)
The Ducks continue to cruise through their regular-season schedule, as they notched a 39-18 home win over Maryland this past Saturday. They're set to play at Wisconsin this weekend and then at home vs. Washington on Nov. 30 before their probable appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 7.

2. Texas (8-1, 4-1 in SEC)
With Georgia's loss, Texas has reemerged as the front-runner to win the SEC championship. The Longhorns were impressive during a 49-17 home win over Florida on Saturday.

Texas has three games remaining (at Arkansas on Saturday, vs. Kentucky on Nov. 23 and at Texas A&M on Nov. 30) to solidify a spot in the SEC Championship Game.

3. BYU (9-0, 6-0 in Big 12)
There was a bit of a scare for the Cougars on Saturday night, when they nearly suffered their first loss of the season. However, they pulled out a 22-21 win at Utah thanks to Will Ferrin's go-ahead 44-yard field goal with three seconds remaining.

BYU continues to be the favorite to win the Big 12 title. Its final three regular-season games are vs. Kansas (Saturday), at Arizona State (Nov. 23) and vs. Houston (Nov. 30).

4. Miami (9-1, 5-1 in ACC)
The Hurricanes' hopes for an undefeated season ended on Saturday, when they took a 28-23 loss at Georgia Tech. Miami is now 5-1 in conference play, sitting behind SMU (5-0) and Clemson (6-1) in the ACC standings.

But there are three weeks to go, and the Hurricanes have a favorable remaining schedule (vs. Wake Forest on Nov. 23 and at Syracuse on Nov. 30). So, they should win out and get a chance to play for the ACC title.

5. Ohio State (8-1, 5-1 in Big Ten)
The Buckeyes have notched three straight victories since their loss at Oregon, as they continued their winning streak with a 45-0 blowout vs. Purdue this past Saturday. Their toughest remaining matchup is a Nov. 23 home contest against undefeated Indiana.

6. Penn State (8-1, 5-1 in Big Ten)
The Nittany Lions bounced back from their loss to Ohio State with a 35-6 home win over Washington on Saturday. It would be surprising if Penn State loses again, considering its remaining schedule (at Purdue on Saturday, at Minnesota on Nov. 23 and vs. Maryland on Nov. 30).

7. Indiana (10-0, 7-0 in Big Ten)
The Hoosiers remained undefeated after a 20-15 home win vs. Michigan at the weekend. Now, they'll have a bye week to prepare for their huge upcoming road matchup at Ohio State on Nov. 23.

8. Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 in SEC)
The Vols are riding a four-game winning streak, but all of those victories came at home. They're hitting the road for the first time in more than a month this week, as they'll play at Georgia on Saturday in a game that could serve as a CFP elimination contest.

9. Alabama (7-2, 4-2 in SEC)
Since losing twice in a span of three weeks during October, the Crimson Tide have gotten back into CFP contention with impressive back-to-back wins against Missouri and LSU. The schedule now gets a bit easier for Alabama, which closes out the regular season with matchups vs. Mercer (Saturday), at Oklahoma (Nov. 23) and vs. Auburn (Nov. 30).

10. Notre Dame (8-1)
The Fighting Irish beat Florida State 52-3 at the weekend for their seventh consecutive win. If Notre Dame wins out the rest of the way—vs. Virginia on Saturday, vs. Army on Nov. 23 and at USC on Nov. 30—then it will have a legitimate CFP case.

11. Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 in SEC)
If the Rebels had lost to Georgia on Saturday, then they likely would have been out of the CFP conversation. But Ole Miss notched a 28-10 victory, and it now has a light remaining schedule (at Florida on Nov. 23 and vs. Mississippi State on Nov. 29) to finish its CFP resume.

12. Boise State (8-1, 5-0 in Mountain West)
It would be a surprise if the fifth conference champion to reach the CFP doesn't end up being Boise State. The Broncos beat Nevada 28-21 this past Saturday, and they should storm through their remaining schedule featuring matchups at San Jose State (Saturday), at Wyoming (Nov. 23) and vs. Oregon State (Nov. 29).