College Football Playoff Predictions: Who’s In After Week 3’s Chaos?

Three weeks of college football are officially in the books, and if you’re not slightly confused, you haven’t been paying attention. We’ve seen supposed titans stumble, underdogs rise, and enough drama to make a reality TV producer blush. While it’s still ridiculously early to be carving championship trophies, the fog is starting to clear, and we’re getting a real sense of who the true contenders are for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

Some teams made statements that echoed from coast to coast. Georgia survived a nail-biter in a hostile environment against Tennessee, while Texas A&M finally got its revenge on Notre Dame in a thriller. Meanwhile, powerhouses like Ohio State and Oregon just kept on rolling, looking every bit the part of a championship contender. Then there’s Clemson, whose demoralizing loss might have just slammed the door on their playoff aspirations before the leaves even start to change.\

So, let’s put on our prognostication hats and dive into the madness. Based on the early-season chaos, here’s how the College Football Playoff bracket could shake out.

The Cream Of the Crop: Projecting the Top Seeds

Every team dreams of a first-round bye, and right now, a few teams are looking like they have the inside track. Ohio State (Big Ten Champion): The Buckeyes stumbled out of the gate in Week 3 but quickly found their footing to put away Ohio. Sure, Head Coach Ryan Day would probably trade a regular-season loss for another college football national title, but in this projection, they get the top spot after a little drama. Imagine this: they drop a game to Penn State in the regular season, only to get their sweet revenge in the Big Ten Championship Game. That’s the kind of story that earns you the No. 1 seed.

Miami (ACC Champion): Is The U finally back? It’s starting to feel that way. After dismantling a previously unbeaten USF, the Hurricanes look downright dominant. Quarterback Carson Beck is playing like a Heisman frontrunner, and if they can march into Tallahassee and knock off Florida State, the hype train will be going off the rails. Head Coach Mario Cristobal has this team playing with a chip on its shoulder, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch.

LSU (SEC Champion): Head Coach Brian Kelly might be grumpy with the media, but he can’t complain about his defense. Forcing five interceptions against Florida is the stuff of nightmares for opposing offenses. While the offense still has some kinks to work out, that season-opening win over Clemson is looking better and better. If the defense continues to play at this elite level, they have a legitimate shot at running the table in the SEC.

Penn State: The Nittany Lions are quietly putting together a dominant season. A looming showdown with Oregon will be the true test, but Head Coach James Franklin has his squad looking like a well-oiled machine. If Quarterback Drew Allar plays like the superstar he’s capable of being in their biggest games, Penn State could very well find themselves with a first-round bye.

The Contenders: Who’s Fighting For a Home Game?

Beyond the top four, a hungry pack of teams is circling, ready to pounce on any sign of weakness.

Georgia: Don’t let the overtime scare fool you. The Bulldogs showed immense heart in their win over Tennessee, and Quarterback Gunner Stockton might just be the real deal. His big-time throws in the second half silenced a lot of critics and proved that Georgia is still a force to be reckoned with. Their resume is packed with quality wins, which will be music to the committee’s ears.

Oregon: Lanning has his Ducks looking lethal once again. They’re running through opponents with an almost casual dominance. Their trip to Beaver Stadium to face Penn State is circled on every calendar. A win there, and Oregon could be looking at an undefeated run through the Big Ten.

Florida State: The Seminoles are riding high after a bye week, and their turnaround from last season is nothing short of remarkable. Their upcoming game against Miami is shaping up to be one of the biggest home games of Head Coach Mike Norvell’s tenure. It’s a classic ACC rivalry with massive College Football Playoff implications.

Texas Tech (Big 12 Champion): Welcome to the party, Red Raiders. Behren Morton is lighting up scoreboards, and this offense looks unstoppable. Their conference opener against Utah will be a huge test, but if they can keep this momentum going, they are the clear favorite to take the Big 12 crown.

Wrapping Up the Field

Rounding out the top 12 are teams like Illinois, who have a favorable schedule, and Texas A&M, which is soaring after a signature win over Notre Dame. Oklahoma is lurking, and don’t sleep on the Group of Five champion, where teams like USF and Tulane are making serious noise.

The beauty of the 12-team College Football Playoff is that the season is far from over for anyone. One big win can change everything, and one bad loss can send a team tumbling. Buckle up, folks. We’re just getting started with college football for the 2025 season.