Pat Forde: College Football Playoff Projected Bracket After Week 2

In the early part of the season, a team won’t be ranked if it hasn’t played a power-conference opponent yet.

Western Michigan linebacker Dillon Moore celebrates a sack against Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood in Week 1. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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.

College Football Playoff Projections After Week 2

1. Texas (2–0) 
2. Ohio State (1–1) 
3. LSU (2–0) 
4. Miami (2–0) 
5. Notre Dame (2–0) 
6. Texas A&M (2–0) 
7. Mississippi (2–0) 
8. Louisville (1–1) 
9. Mississippi State (2–0) 
10. Utah (2–0) 
11. Tulsa (2–0) 
12. 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 

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