The calm before the storm has passed in college football, and now only two weeks’ worth of action remains before the final 12-team College Football Playoff bracket is set.
The Week 13 schedule was relatively quiet, with only a few games providing any clarity to the overall CFP picture or various conference races. Likely the biggest game of consequence on Saturday, Nov. 22 was a 42-27 victory for No. 5 Oregon (No. 7 in CFP) over No. 16 Southern California (No. 15 in CFP). The Ducks have an outside chance of making the Big Ten conference title game, but their win over the Trojans has almost certainly guaranteed their entry to the playoff.
The ACC lurched toward a wild finish in Week 14 after Pittsburgh beat Georgia Tech (No. 16 in CFP). The Yellow Jackets needed only to beat the unranked Panthers to clinch a spot in the ACC title game and potentially earn a playoff bid as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions. The favorites to make the title game now include Virginia and SMU — though Miami, Pitt and Georgia Tech are all still alive in the race.
With time winding down for teams to boost their CFP resumes, here are USA TODAY Sports’ predictions for what the 12-team bracket will look like when it’s said and done:
CFP rankings, bracket predictions after Week 13
* Denotes one of five highest ranked conference champions
Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network
Ohio State *
Texas A&M *
Indiana
Georgia
Texas Tech *
Oregon
Ole Miss
Oklahoma
Alabama
Notre Dame
SMU *
Tulane *
The biggest changes this week are at the bottom of this would-be 12-team bracket.
While Miami is the most talented team in the conference — and I believe it will knock off Pitt next week — the Hurricanes’ path to the ACC championship game is extremely narrow. In an increasingly likely Virginia-SMU title game, I like the Mustangs to win and earn the ACC’s playoff berth.
As jumbled as the top of the American standings has been this season, its two title game participants will both have two losses entering the game, barring a massive upset or two next week. That should be enough to keep it ahead of one-loss James Madison out of the Sun Belt. Of those three teams at the top of the American, I like Tulane the most.
Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Network
Ohio State *
Georgia *
Indiana
Texas A&M
Texas Tech *
Oregon
Ole Miss
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Alabama
Virginia *
Tulane *
Not much changes in my bracket projection, although Oregon moves up a few spots after its win over USC.
Tulane holds onto the fifth and final conference champion bid, but James Madison is starting to narrow the gap between it and the winner of the American. Onto the regular season finale, where there could be huge shakeups in my 12-team projection.
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY
Ohio State *
Indiana
Texas A&M *
Georgia
Texas Tech *
Oregon
Mississippi
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Alabama
Virginia *
Tulane *
There shouldn’t be much of a shift in the projected field, with the biggest thing to note at the top is Oregon leaping ahead of Mississippi after beating Southern California. The one thing to note is Georgia Tech’s loss dramatically changes the ACC outlook.
At this point, I like Virginia to take the ACC title and get one of the top five conference championship bids. The Group of Five picture has also stayed the same with Tulane getting the selection since it doesn’t feel like any other potential teams are close to being on the same level.
Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Network
Ohio State *
Indiana
Georgia *
Texas A&M
Texas Tech *
Oregon
Ole Miss
Oklahoma
Alabama
Notre Dame
Virginia *
James Madison *
With not much in terms of ranked games, there’s not a ton of movement this week. The top five remains the same, but Oregon makes a move after its win over USC.
Meanwhile, Virginia is in a good spot in the ACC following Georgia Tech’s loss and the unlikeliness of Miami making the ACC championship game. James Madison is the favorite to win the Group of Five conference playoff spot now. Expect more changes after Week 14.
John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Network
Ohio State *
Texas A&M *
Indiana
Georgia
Texas Tech *
Ole Miss
Oregon
Oklahoma
Alabama
Notre Dame
SMU *
Tulane *
There was not much movement in the CFP bracket due to the lack of major upsets taking place within the top 12. Oregon and Oklahoma’s wins over USC and Missouri, respectively, should give the Ducks and Sooners both first-round home games.
The ACC remains chaotic with Georgia Tech falling at home to Mason Heintschel and Pitt. Should the Panthers beat Miami next week in Pittsburgh (on top of some help from Cal or Virginia Tech), Pat Narduzzi’s squad could make a case to be in the field, depending on whether they get into the ACC championship game.
Craig Meyer, Austin Curtright, Jordan Mendoza, Ehsan Kassim and John Leuzzi of the USA TODAY Network contributed to this story.