Bowl projections: Playoff has new No. 1 seed and two new SEC teams

The No. 1 team in the US LBM Coaches Poll is now the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff field in this week’s USA TODAY Sports bowl projections.

Oregon has held the top spot in the rankings since Georgia defeated Texas in Week 8. The Bulldogs, however, were the No. 1 seed in last week’s edition based upon the expectation Ohio State would emerge as the Big Ten champion. That’s not a given after the Buckeyes struggled against Nebraska at home, changing the forecast in the favor of the Ducks going unbeaten.

The other major changes come with the additions of two SEC teams to the playoff. Texas A&M has worked its way into the 12-team field after defeating LSU. Also improving its position is Tennessee, which looks to be in good shape to reach at least 10 wins. Dropping out are both LSU and idle Iowa State. While the decision might be harsh to the unbeaten Cyclones, they face a tough task running the table in the Big 12 and lack the quality wins of both the Aggies and Volunteers.

So, that’s where the picture stands entering November. But the final full month of the season is where business picks up for the contenders, and the pressure to win can lead to unexpected results. There’s sure to be more changes ahead.

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Note: Legacy Pac-12 schools in other conferences will fulfill existing Pac-12 bowl agreements through the 2025 season.

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