College Football Playoff Bracket Week 2 Live Projections: SEC vs. Big Ten Matchups Loom Large

Throughout Saturday’s games, Sports Illustrated projects the playoff seeding and matchups.

Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney scores a touchdown against Florida A&M in Week 2. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Update at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday

While the College Football Playoff bracket didn’t change much during Week 1’s lackluster slate, that doesn’t portend to be the case in Week 2 given some of the marquee nonconference games we’ll be treated to throughout Saturday.

Top of mind has to be the two blueblood meetings pitting the SEC and Big Ten, both in Austin between top-ranked Ohio State and No. 4 Texas, along with a must-win game for both Michigan and Oklahoma at the Big House. As usual though, something says we’ll get a few surprising results that lead to some additional chaos here or there as well.

Here’s how the bracket looks in Week 2. 

Live Week 2 College Football Playoff Bracket

1. Notre Dame
2. Ohio State
3. LSU
4. Miami 
5. Georgia
6. Texas
7. Oregon 
8. Indiana
9. Mississippi
10. USC
11. BYU
12. Boise State

First Round

• No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Georgia
• No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Texas
• No. 10 USC at No. 7 Oregon
• No. 9 Mississippi at No. 8 Indiana

Quarterfinals

• Peach Bowl: No. 4 Miami vs. winner of No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Georgia
• Cotton Bowl: No. 3 LSU vs. winner of No. 11 BYU vs. No. 6 Texas
• Rose Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. winner of No. 10 USC vs. No. 7 Oregon
• Fiesta Bowl: No. 1 Notre Dame vs. winner of No. 9 Mississippi vs. No. 8 Indiana

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No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Georgia

There might not be a bigger Group of 6 game this season than Memphis, one of the favorites in the American, at Pac-12 ringleader Boise State. Should be a great atmosphere on the blue turf and the winner is almost surely in pole position for a playoff bid (even accounting for the Broncos heading to face Western Michigan in a few weeks). As for Georgia, the soft nonconference slate the Bulldogs have will result in few takeaways about Kirby Smart’s roster beyond some impressive stats racked up against the likes of Western Kentucky. 

No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Texas 

This Steve Sarkisian Bowl is bound to change by day’s end given that the Cougars have a big test against Arizona at home to open Big 12 play and Texas will either end the night at No. 1 or see them sink further down the playoff pecking order depending on how they play against Ohio State.

No. 10 USC at No. 7 Oregon

The response we’ll see from the Ducks on the road at Oklahoma State will go a long way in seeing just how much higher they might be able to move in the playoff bracket. As for USC, it will be a late night in Los Angeles for Lincoln Riley’s side and even later before we learn much more about the Trojans given their schedule before Big Ten play starts later this month.

No. 9 Mississippi at No. 8 Indiana

Can Indiana start ensuring there will be a running clock in the second half for some of their nonconference games? That should have been the case against Howard on Saturday afternoon and until they play an opponent with a pulse. Meanwhile, the Rebels can enjoy a nice day out on the Grove for what will remarkably be Pete Golding’s first game as a head coach against a team which isn’t ranked at the time.

Peach Bowl: No. 4 Miami

Poor Florida A&M, which got whacked on Thursday night in a game that was probably less competitive than a Hurricanes practice is. The good news for Mario Cristobal is that his team still managed to look sharp despite a short week of prep after returning from the West Coast and they have not one, but two legitimate Heisman candidates in Malachi Toney and Darian Mensah. 

Cotton Bowl: No. 3 LSU

Will the Tigers show a lot or show a little in their tune-up against Louisiana Tech on Saturday night in Death Valley? Either way, all eyes will be looking ahead to the Tigers’ trip to Ole Miss next week. 

Rose Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State

College football and NFL fans might delight in the coordinator matchup involved in the Buckeyes’ game at Texas, with longtime pro coaches Arthur Smith and Matt Patricia both calling plays against college veterans (who have a dash of NFL experience) Steve Sarkisian and Will Muschamp. One thing is clear, all the scouts will be in Austin for a game dripping with first-round NFL draft picks (and plenty of sweat, too, in those temperatures). 

Fiesta Bowl: No. 1 Notre Dame

Takeaways will be few and far between for the Irish against an overmatched Rice side, but the Owls’ unique option offense could lead to a few interesting series in South Bend. 

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