Missouri has pushed itself right to the edge of the College Football Playoff conversation.
The 13th-ranked Tigers are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play after their 27-6 win over Texas A&M last week, and that result has them climbing toward the field. ESPN lists Missouri with the second-toughest remaining schedule in the country, trailing only Ohio State, while On3’s latest bracketology has the Tigers as the second team out.
That’s the neighborhood Mizzou occupies right now - close enough to matter, but still needing more proof. A win at Ole Miss would change that in a hurry and put the Tigers firmly in the picture.
At the top of the weekly race, Georgia remains the SEC favorite after its 20-17 win at Alabama, a result that served as the clearest statement of the weekend. Ohio State holds the edge in the Big Ten picture, sitting No. 4 in the AP Top 25 and heading to Indiana as a 3.5-point road favorite with Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith both rolling at a high level. In the Big 12, BYU has taken over as the favorite after improving to 5-0 with a 24-10 win over Iowa State, and College Gameday is headed to Provo for the Cougars’ showdown with Notre Dame.
Miami is also unbeaten at 5-0 and ranked No. 3 after a bye week, with Florida State next in a heated rivalry game on Saturday night.
Notre Dame remains the automatic-bid favorite. The Irish are 6-0, ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25, and set for a major test at No.
8 BYU. CJ Carr, according to the bracket projection, looks the part of a Heisman contender.
Boise State holds the Group of Six automatic-bid spot after improving to 5-1 and No. 23 in the AP poll with a road win at Fresno State, and the Broncos travel to Washington State on Saturday looking for style points.
Among the at-large teams, Indiana’s place feels a little shaky after barely escaping Nebraska 20-17. A win over Ohio State on Saturday would flip that conversation quickly and put the Hoosiers back in the Big Ten title mix. UCLA has surged to 5-0 under first-year coach Bob Chesney and climbed to No. 12 after its statement win at Oregon, but the injury to Nico Iamaleava hangs over the Bruins as they face Wisconsin at home on Saturday night.
Alabama is still in the mix despite the loss to Georgia, but the Crimson Tide’s margin for error has thinned fast with Tennessee coming up on the road. Ole Miss enters the week 4-1 and No. 9 after a 52-17 road win at Vanderbilt, with Trinidad Chambliss driving elite quarterback play. Even so, the Rebels’ run defense leaves them exposed, which makes Saturday’s matchup with Missouri such a massive playoff game.
Texas is still hanging around the playoff picture, but the loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry left more questions than answers for Steve Sarkisian’s team. The Longhorns are trying to get right at home against Florida.
Kentucky, meanwhile, is one of the surprise teams of the bracket conversation, sitting at 5-1 under first-year coach Will Stein after a 35-34 win over LSU. The Wildcats head to Oklahoma on Saturday night trying to show they belong.
The current top four seeds are Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami (FL), and Ohio State.
Under the projected bracket, Boise State would visit Indiana, Kentucky would play at BYU, UCLA would head to Texas, and Ole Miss would travel to Alabama.
For now, the final four projection has Georgia meeting Ohio State and Notre Dame facing Miami (FL).
In Other News...
Missouri's Season Plans Hinge On A Huge Mark Mitchell Decision
Mark Mitchells status has quietly become one of the biggest offseason storylines around Missouri basketball, and it has everything to do with what happens next for the Tigers in 2025. The forward is seeking a fifth year of NCAA eligibility, with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 14, and coach Dennis Gates has been publicly backing him through the process. For Missouri, this is not just a paperwork matter. It is a roster issue with real weight for a team trying to map out its season plans.
Mitchells presence would shape how Missouri can build around its core, and his absence would force a different kind of adjustment before the season even begins. The decision remains unresolved for now, leaving the Tigers in the awkward spot of preparing for one version of their roster while waiting on a ruling that could change the outlook in a major way. Until that is settled, one of Missouris most important questions stays open. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Heads To Ole Miss With One Big Backfield Concern
Missouris win over Texas A&M kept the Tigers rolling at 5-1 and up to No. 13 nationally, but it also sharpened the picture in the backfield as the team turns toward Ole Miss. Trajen Greco has given the defense a steadier presence, while Jamal Roberts has seen his workload climb and has responded with productive runs. Kenric Lanier II has also started to find a bigger role on offense, adding another layer to a group that has become more important as Missouris margin for error shrinks.
The concern is less about what the Tigers have gotten from the backfield and more about how much they are leaning on it. Roberts has handled a large majority of the carries, and that kind of usage can quickly become a conversation when the schedule tightens and the stakes rise. Missouri has enough momentum to feel good about where it stands, but the trip to Oxford will test whether the Tigers can keep that balance intact. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Heads To Ole Miss With One Big Question Hanging Over Saturday
The SECs Wednesday night injury report put an immediate layer of uncertainty on Saturdays matchup between No. 13 Missouri and No. 9 Ole Miss. Mizzou listed 11 players as questionable, a group that included leading receiver Cayden Lee, while Ole Miss had eight players ruled out, among them wide receiver Izaiah Hartrup, giving both teams something to monitor as the week moves on.
For Missouri, the health watch lands at a tricky time because the Tigers are heading into one of the biggest games on their schedule with plenty still unsettled. Beyond football, the athletic department also kept a busy calendar moving this week, as Mizzou gymnastics announced its 2027 slate with SEC competition and the Metroplex Challenge, while womens golf, mens golf, tennis and volleyball all had recent updates and upcoming events of their own. [Read more 🡒]