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How the Forde-Yard Dash would select and seed the College Football Playoff if today was Selection Sunday. Same rules apply as last week: If a team hasn’t played a power-conference opponent yet, it’s not getting ranked. Looking at you, Big Ten, where Indiana, USC, Penn State, Nebraska and Washington have nonconference slates consisting solely of Group of 6 conference teams.
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College Football Playoff Projections After Week 2
- Texas (2–0)
- Ohio State (1–1)
- LSU (2–0)
- Miami (2–0)
- Notre Dame (2–0)
- Texas A&M (2–0)
- Mississippi (2–0)
- Louisville (1–1)
- Mississippi State (2–0)
- Utah (2–0)
- Tulsa (2–0)
- Western Michigan (1–1, but really 2–0)
Also considered: Missouri, Alabama, UCLA, Duke, Tennessee, Colorado, SMU, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Auburn, Virginia, BYU, Cincinnati, Iowa, Pittsburgh, Michigan, Massachusetts.
First Round
- No. 12 Western Michigan at No. 5 Notre Dame
- No. 11 Tulsa at No. 6 Texas A&M
- No. 10 Utah at No. 7 Mississippi
- No. 9 Mississippi State at No. 8 Louisville
Quarterfinals
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 4 Miami vs. winner of No. 12 Western Michigan vs. No. 5 Notre Dame
- Peach Bowl: No. 3 LSU vs. winner of No. 11 Tulsa vs. No. 6 Texas A&M
- Rose Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. winner of No. 10 Utah vs. No. 7 Mississippi
- Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Texas vs. winner of No. 9 Mississippi State vs. No. 8 Louisville
PODCAST: Listen to Sports Illustrated‘s college sports podcast, Others Receiving Votes, hosted by Pat Forde, on Apple and Spotify. Watch the show on SI’s college YouTube channel or on SI TV.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Pat Forde: College Football Playoff Projected Bracket After Week 2.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 1:03 PM.