CFP Bracket Watch: Texas the top seed, Tennessee a first-round host in latest AP playoff projection
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, center, stands with players for the school song following their win over UTSA in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Credit: AP/Eric Gay
The projected College Football Playoff field has a new top seed.
Using The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll to fill out the 12-team bracket, Texas now holds the No. 1 seed after taking the top spot in the rankings Sunday.
Ohio State is still the projected No. 2 seed as the Big Ten champion, with Miami as the third seed as Atlantic Coast Conference champ and Utah of the Big 12 as the fourth seed.
There was little other significant movement in the projections with the same 12 teams in the field this week as last.
Tennessee and Missouri swapped spots in what would be an 8-9 game in the first round. Now the Volunteers are the eighth seed and projected home team.
Penn State and Oregon also swapped seeds with the Ducks at 10 and Nittany Lions at 11.
A reminder about the format: The top four seeds are assigned to the highest-ranked conference champions, regardless of their overall ranking. The five highest-ranked conference champions, regardless of league, are guaranteed spots in the field.
Tennessee punter Jackson Ross, left, congratulates quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) after touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. Credit: AP/George Walker IV
There is no cap on the number of teams that can come from one conference. The CFP selection committee starts ranking teams in November but for now, the breakdown via the Top 25:
No. 9 Missouri at No. 8 Tennessee. Winner vs. No. 1 Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
No. 12 Northern Illinois at No. 5 Georgia. Winner vs. No. 4 Utah in the Fiesta Bowl.
No. 10 Oregon at No. 7 Mississippi. Winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
No. 11 Penn State at No. 6 Alabama. Winner vs. No. 3 Miami in the Peach Bowl.
Moving in this week: None.
Next three: No. 11 Southern California, No. 13 Kansas State, No. 14 Oklahoma State.
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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP
