College Football Playoff bracket for Week 7: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams

College Football Playoff bracket for Week 7: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams originally appeared on The Sporting News

We’ve officially given the “Preseason Polls are meaningless” crowd too much material to work with in the first half of the 2025 college football season.

Through Week 6, four teams that were ranked in the top six in the preseason have two losses or more. Clemson is removed from the College Football Playoff conversation. Notre Dame is trying to hop back in after losing to Miami and Texas A&M to open its season.

Two more preseason hopefuls fell into undesirable territory on Saturday. Penn State and Texas were semifinal teams last year. Now, they both have two losses. It’s safe to say that shakes up our College Football Playoff picture heading into Week 7.

Arch Manning’s first year as a starter hit another obstacle after a 29-21 loss against Florida at The Swamp. Manning finished 16 of 29 for 263 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. He led Texas with 37 of their 52 rushing yards. Now, the Longhorns face a must-win moment against undefeated Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.

There still is room for five SEC playoff teams, but it’s going to be difficult for three-loss teams to squeeze in.

What about Penn State? A heart-breaking loss to Oregon in Week 5 led to a stunning 42-37 loss to UCLA in Week 6. The Nittany Lions still have a few chances against Ohio State and Indiana to get back in the mix, but that’s a lot to ask. We don’t think a three-loss Big Ten team is getting in this playoff; not with the Irish getting back in the fold.

Dropped out: Texas, Penn State

Moved in: Oklahoma, Tennessee

BENDER: Trying to explain Penn State’s inexplicable loss to UCLA

Projected College Football Playoff first-round byes

No. 1 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0; Big Ten champion)

Ohio State has shown no weaknesses to this point. The Buckeyes routed Minnesota 42-3, and through five games the defense has allowed five points per game. Julian Sayin (23 of 27, 326 yards, 3 TDs) increased his completion percentage to 80.1% (101 of 126) for the season. Carnell Tate (9-183, 2 TDs) and Jeremiah Smith (7-67, 2 TDs) were unstoppable. Ohio State travels to Illinois in Week 7.

No. 2 Miami (5-0, 1-0 ACC; ACC champion)

Mario Cristobal proclaimed “state champs” after a 28-22 victory against Florida State, and that’s true. The Hurricanes swept Florida, Florida State and even South Florida, and there is not a ranked team left on the schedule. Carson Beck (20 of 27, 240 yards, 4 TDs) helped Miami build a 28-3 lead on the road against the Seminoles, which was more than enough to hold off a fourth-quarter rally. Wide receivers Malachi Toney (7-107, 2 TDs) and CJ Daniels (5-78, 2 TDs) had huge games for the Hurricanes. Miami has a bye week before a home matchup against Louisville on Oct. 17.

MORE: Carson Beck lights up Florida State

No. 3 Alabama (4-1, 2-0; SEC champion)

The Crimson Tide have emerged as our pick to win the SEC under second-year coach Kalen DeBoer despite the Week 1 loss to Florida State. Remember, Jam Miller (22-136, TD), who keyed a 30-14 victory against Vanderbilt in Week 6, was injured for that game. Ty Simpson (23 of 31, 340 yards, 2 TDs, INT) has 13 TDs and one interception through five games, and the build-up ahead of the matchup against the Commodores proved Alabama still wears the largest target in the conference heading into a road trip to Missouri in Week 7.

MORE: Ty Simpson ups his Heisman credentials

No. 4 Oregon (5-0, 2-0; Big Ten at-large)

The Ducks are sitting pretty in the CFP picture after a bye week. Oregon ranks seventh in the FBS in scoring offense (46.6 ppg.) and 11th in scoring defense (12.2 ppg.). Dante Moore (1,210 yards, 14 TDs, INT) is among the Heisman front-runners, and neither Ohio State nor Michigan is on the Big Ten schedule. The next top-10 test is against Indiana in Week 7.

Projected College Football Playoff first-round matchups

A look at Sporting News projected first-round College Football Playoff matchups heading into Week 7 of the college football season:

No. 12 Memphis (6-0, 2-0 American champion) at No. 5 Ole Miss (5-0, 3-0 SEC)

The transformation of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (1,033 yards, 5 TDs, INT) from backup quarterback to Heisman Trophy contender has the Rebels in a great spot coming out of the bye week. Ole Miss plays Washington State in Week 6 – a break from the rest of the SEC schedule. Memphis routed Tulsa 45-7 in American Conference play behind another impressive effort from quarterback Brendon Lewis (22 of 30, 266 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs), who added 67 rushing yards and a TD. The Tigers have a bye week before a road trip to UAB. The Oct. 25 showdown with South Florida will have huge playoff implications.

No. 11 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1; SEC at-large) at No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0; SEC at-large)

These teams meet on Nov. 1. Oklahoma is presented with an opportunity to knock out Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (14 of 24, 162 yards, 3 TDs) led the Sooners to a 44-0 victory against Kent State and likely will get another start in place of John Mateer (hand). Tennessee averages 51 points per game, and that includes 41 points in each of its first two SEC games. The Vols had a bye week to prepare for Arkansas in Week 7.

No. 10 Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0; Big 12 champion) vs. No. 7 Texas A&M (5-0, 2-0; SEC at-large)

Here are two schools happy to see the Longhorns out of the field. Texas A&M remained unbeaten in the SEC after a 31-9 victory against Mississippi State. Marcel Reed (13 of 23, 180 yards, 2 TDs, INT) continued his solid play, and Reuben Owens (21-142) was the hot hand in the backfield. The Bulldogs were just 1 of 10 on third down. Texas A&M faces Florida in Week 7. Texas Tech beat Houston 35-11, and the Red Raiders are one of two unbeaten teams left in the Big 12. Texas Tech looks like the prohibitive favorite, too. Behren Morton (28 of 45, 345 yards, TD) returned from a head injury, and All-America candidate Jacob Rodriguez added five tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups.

No. 9 Georgia (4-1, 2-1; SEC at-large) vs. No. 8 Indiana (5-0, 2-0; Big Ten at-large)

Can you imagine Indiana hosting Georgia at Memorial Stadium? The Bulldogs are back on track after a 35-14 victory against Kentucky. Georgia’s two most difficult remaining games — Ole Miss and Texas — are at home. The Wildcats managed 270 yards and converted 3 of 11 on third down. Indiana ranks sixth in the FBS in scoring offense (47.8 ppg.) and fourth in scoring defense (9.6 ppg.). Second-year coach Curt Cignetti is 16-2 with the Hoosiers with a 1-2 record against top-10 teams. The chance to silence more critics against Oregon is here.

MORE: How long will Bill Belichick last at North Carolina?

Projected College Football Playoff bubble teams

Georgia Tech (5-0, 2-0)

Georgia Tech enjoyed a bye week, and the Yellow Jackets are firmly among the ACC contenders with an offense that averages 6.1 yards per rushing attempt. Haynes King owns a 68.2% completion percentage and averages 5.2 yards per carry. Georgia Tech plays Virginia Tech in Week 7.

LSU (4-1, 1-1)

Perhaps no early-season contender needed a bye-week reset more than LSU. The Tigers still have a top-10 defense under Brian Kelly that allows 12.2 points per game, but the health of Garrett Nussmeier (1,159 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs) and running back Caden Durham (213 yards, 2 TDs) is the focus. LSU plays South Carolina in Week 7.

Michigan (4-1, 2-0)

Michigan is that new first Big Ten team out – at least for a week. The Wolverines beat Wisconsin 24-14. The combination of Bryce Underwood (19 of 28, 270 yards, TD) and Justice Haynes (19-117, 2 TDs) is strong, and defensive back Rod Moore had an interception in his return to the lineup. The Wolverines can improve their case with a prime-time victory at USC in Week 7 in a rematch of last year’s 27-24 instant classic.

Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC)

Vanderbilt missed its shot at Alabama. Now, it’s the Tigers’ turn at home against the Crimson Tide. Beau Pribula (1,203 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs) leads the SEC in completion percentage. Ahmad Hardy (730 yards, 9 TDs) is arguably the best running back in the FBS. Does Missouri have a better shot against Alabama than the Commodores? The Tigers are 0-5 against the Crimson Tide since joining the SEC.

BYU (5-0, 2-0)

Cincinnati upset Iowa State 38-30, which means the Cougars are the other unbeaten team left in the Big 12. This is not unfamiliar territory considering BYU started 10-0 in 2024. Bear Bachmeier (18 of 25, 351 yards, TD, INT) had a season-high in passing yards in the 38-24 victory against West Virginia. BYU travels to Arizona in Week 7.

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