Several teams, including my Ole Miss Rebels, fell short in the race for a playoff spot. However, the season is still young, with plenty of time to turn things around. That being said, one or two teams put in performances that have people on notice.
2024 College Football Playoff Predictions after Week 5
Two of my top 12 SEC teams were on a bye week, but that didn't stop several changes and resulted in me not overreacting in my playoff predictions after Week 5. Here are my updated playoff predictions.
Rank | Team | Why are they here | Previous rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Texas | SEC Champion | 5 |
2 | Ohio State | Big Ten Champion | 2 |
3 | Miami | ACC Champion | 4 |
4 | Utah | Big 12 Champion | 3 |
5 | Alabama | At-large | 9 |
6 | Georgia | At-large | 1 |
7 | Oregon | At-large | 10 |
8 | Tennessee | At-large | 6 |
9 | Penn State | At-large | 11 |
10 | Missouri | At-large | 8 |
11 | Ole Miss | At-large | 7 |
12 | Liberty | C-USA Champion | 12 |
The top of the SEC and Big Ten is getting interesting
Most will call the SEC and the Big Ten Conference the biggest in college football. This weekend saw the race to make the championship game heat up. Starting with the Big Ten, there was no devastating loss, but Oregon, Penn State, USC, and maybe Michigan showed they could threaten Ohio State. Most think it's a cakewalk for the Buckeyes, but the Ducks and Nittany Lions especially look to be playing their way into top form. Both will play Ohio State at home later in the regular season.
The powerhouse match-up in the SEC had Alabama beating Georgia in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide looked to be running away with the win at one point before the Bulldogs came storming back. True freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams capped off an excellent performance with a game-winning touchdown. Both these teams could meet again in the SEC Championship game, but Texas may have something to say about that. They took care of Mississippi State with Arch Manning at QB again and, as it stands, are my favorites to be crowned SEC Champion after Week 5.
Tennessee and Missouri both had bye weeks, dropping a couple of places due to impressive wins for other playoff teams. Ole Miss took a shock defeat to Kentucky, which put a dent in their playoff aspirations. However, call it being a homer, but they can still bounce back and finish at least 10-2, which should be enough for a playoff spot.
I still consider Liberty the best Group of 5 team, ahead of Boise State, UNLV, and James Madison. The Flames' match against Appalachian State was canceled due to Hurricane Helene's effects. It will not be rescheduled, but if Liberty goes unbeaten like they did in 2023, they will have a chance.