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Latest Bowl Predictions, 2025 College Football Playoff Picks amid Bracket Scenarios
A pair of close calls and an upset from the SEC headlined Saturday's Week 12 action.
The Oklahoma Sooners' win over the Alabama Crimson Tide was the most significant result to affect the College Football Playoff projections.
Oklahoma, who entered Saturday at No. 11, now looks like a playoff team as long as it wins out.
Alabama has a little bit of work left to do to remain with two losses and earn its spot in the 12-team field.
The Texas A&M Aggies and Ole Miss Rebels almost lost on Saturday, but both top-10 teams eked out results.
Both teams will be the in the playoff because the worst either one can finish is 10-2, which is good enough to get into the field.
Oklahoma's Win Over Alabama Headlines Crazy Day in SEC
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Oklahoma produced the most consequential Week 12 result in Tuscaloosa.
The Sooners are now 8-2 with two home games remaining in SEC play. If they win out and finish 10-2, they will be in the playoff field as an at-large team.
Oklahoma owns four Top 25 victories and its only losses are to Ole Miss, a playoff team, and the Texas Longhorns, a top-20 team.
Alabama has a clear path to 10-2 as well with its only tough test coming in the Iron Bowl against the Auburn Tigers.
If Alabama wins out, it could get into the SEC Championship Game, which would put the Crimson Tide in an interesting spot.
Alabama would be safely in the field as a 10-2 at-large team, but a third loss would spark a bit of debate about its status, especially if the loss is by double digits.
While Alabama's safety net is gone, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and the Georgia Bulldogs still have it and reside in comfortable spots inside the top 10.
A&M survived an upset bid from the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday. The Aggies are safely in the playoff field, but whether they earn a first-round bye will be determined by results against Texas and in the SEC Championship Game.
Ole Miss outlasted the Florida Gators to move to 10-1 and essentially clinch a playoff berth. No matter what happens against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thanksgiving weekend, Lane Kiffin's side will be in the 12-team field.
Georgia cleared Texas out of the playoff discussion for now with a 35-10 thumping in Athens. UGA can strengthen its case for a first-round bye in two weeks against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
At minimum, the SEC will get four teams into the 12-team field. A fifth team is dependent on what happens with Alabama.
Notre Dame Confirms Playoff Status With Blowout Win Over Pitt
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish passed their final significant test with flying colors in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Marcus Freeman's side steamrolled the Pittsburgh Panthers to essentially lock in a playoff spot.
Notre Dame finishes the regular season against the Syracuse Orange and Stanford Cardinal, both unranked opponents.
A 10-2 Notre Dame will not just get into the playoff field, but will potentially host a first-round game.
The Irish should move up to No. 8 in Tuesday's CFB Playoff rankings after Alabama's loss. That would put them in position to potentially host a SEC team in the opening round in South Bend.
Miami Still Lurking With At-Large Spot In Mind
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The Miami Hurricanes just keep hanging around.
Miami blew out the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday and it will be a top-14 team on Tuesday due to Texas' expected fall down the rankings.
At 8-2 with a win over Notre Dame, Miami is enticing as an at-large selection in comparison to the BYU Cougars and Utah Utes out of the Big 12.
Miami needs to survive two road tests to end the season at 10-2, but if it does, it could make a compelling case for an at-large spot.
The Hurricanes' case will get louder if BYU or Utah lose, or if the Vanderbilt Commodores stumble against the Tennessee Volunteers in two weeks.
Sure, Miami has two bad losses on its resume, but 10-2 might be enough to sneak Miami in the field if other teams stumble.
The at-large path is required because Miami likely won't make the ACC Championship Game and land the conference's automatic berth to the playoff, but right now, the 'Canes are the highest-ranked ACC squad.
