Pat Forde: College Football Playoff Projected Bracket After Week Zero

Between a limited Week Zero schedule and preseason expectations, here is an early look at the 12-team playoff field.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr and the Fighting Irish are in the lead for the College Football Playoff’s top seed. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

If this is the last 12-team playoff, it would be a damn shame. That’s been a good number and a good format, even if the championship game is way too late in the calendar. Regardless, here’s the bracket on stone tablets for the selection committee to copy come December:

College Football Playoff Projections After Week Zero

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

First round 

• No. 12 Navy at No. 5 Oregon 
• No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Texas 
• No. 10 USC at No. 7 Miami 
• No. 9 Texas A&M at No. 8 Mississippi 

Quarterfinals 

• No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Ohio State
• No. 6 Texas vs. No. 3 Georgia 
• No. 7 Miami vs. No. 2 Indiana
• No. 8 Mississippi vs. No. 1 Notre Dame 

Semifinals 

• No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Notre Dame
• No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 2 Indiana

Final

• No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 1 Notre Dame

National champion

• Notre Dame

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