In the latest College Football Playoffs projections from USA TODAY, Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg get the chance to wrong a right after pairing two Big Ten teams against each other last week.
They also make a change at the top of the bracket with the Alabama Crimson Tide taking the spot held by the Georgia Bulldogs after their loss at Bama.
Another team entered the top seeds following the Utah Utes loss to Big 12 opponent Arizona. The Kansas State Wildcats replace them, for now, although the Big 12 has plenty of competition at the top including BYU, Iowa State, and even Coach Prime’s Colorado Buffaloes.
The Miami Hurricanes from the ACC and Ohio State Buckeyes out of the Big Ten round out the projected conference champs, while Barry Odom’s UNLV Rebels secure the Group of Five bid after blasting Fresno State without starting quarterback Matthew Sluka.
Here is a look at how all the bowl projections play out for Big Ten programs ahead of Week 6:
Three Big Ten teams in CFP
The No. 6 Oregon Ducks and No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions join No. 2 Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs projections. CFP rankings are separate from the Coaches and AP polls.
Oregon and Penn St. each move up one spot from last week, while OSU stays at two.
It’s good to see none drop out, with the Nittany Lions the closest to upset watch against Illinois. They dusted them and were rewarded. The Illini loss gave other Big Ten teams an opportunity to knock on the CFP door.
Michigan, Indiana on CFP radar
The one-loss Wolverines and undefeated Hoosiers got ink time. Michigan was more in passing as Myerberg gave four teams to watch the last of his digital ink.
In case you didn’t know, Indiana is 5-0 for the first time since 1967.
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Big Ten bowl projections at a glance
Three teams are accounted for thanks to the College Football Playoffs. The first official week of Big Ten play jumbled the conference standings, but did it throw their bowl projections out of whack?
- Duke’s Mayo – Iowa Hawkeyes vs. NC State Wolfpack
- First Responder – Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
- Citrus – Michigan Wolverines vs. Ole Miss Rebels
- Sun – Washington Huskies (Pac-12 rep) vs. Pitt Panthers
- ReliaQuest – Illinois Fightin’ Illini vs. Missouri Tigers
- Music City – Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Oklahoma Sooners
- Alamo – USC Trojans (Pac-12 rep) vs. BYU Cougars
- Pinstripe – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Syracuse Orange
- Detroit – Wisconsin Badgers vs. Toledo Rockets
The 12 Big Ten teams projected is down one from last week’s projection. Michigan State fell from bowl season, and no new Big Ten team replaced them.
This week looks better than last, but that’s just me. What do you think?