Georgia’s latest demolition of Florida didn’t just extend a streak. It gave the College Football Playoff race another jolt and forced a fresh look at how the bracket could shake out as November arrives.
The Bulldogs handled the Gators for the sixth straight time, and Florida’s third loss of the season knocks it out of the playoff conversation. That result also feeds directly into the SEC picture and gives the selection committee a new data point as it gathers for its first meeting of the week.
For now, Georgia still sits where it has for much of the season: as the most complete team in the country and the projected SEC champion. Nothing about Saturday changed that view.
The projected ACC champion is expected to run the table, which would include a road win at Notre Dame next week. Even so, the committee could still favor a one-loss SEC champion over an unbeaten ACC winner.
Ohio State has moved into the projection as the expected Big Ten champion after Indiana’s offensive issues continued, even with questions lingering around the Buckeyes following Julian Sayin’s injury.
Will Stein’s debut was a strong one, and the team he now coaches is projected to finish as the SEC championship runner-up. That could be enough to land a first-round bye.
Indiana remains the second-best team in the Big Ten, but Josh Hoover not being fully healthy could hurt the Hoosiers’ chances of defending their title.
Utah strengthened its case by putting up 42 first-half points at Cincinnati, shutting down any upset chatter and staying in position as the Big 12 favorite.
Idle this weekend, Lane Kiffin’s team still has a lot to prove. The next stretch will tell the story, with Alabama and Texas coming to town and a trip to Tennessee still ahead.
The projected Big 12 runner-up is ahead of BYU, which is expected to end up with two losses after its game against Utah.
UCLA remains very much alive to run the table, but the committee may not be sold on the Bruins’ schedule strength.
Alabama’s loss at LSU does not end its playoff hopes, especially with the rest of the schedule expected to be manageable.
Notre Dame’s path is less forgiving. Losses to BYU and possibly Miami could leave the Irish outside the top 12, given what remains on their schedule. If that happens, Ole Miss or Texas could slide into the spot if either team finishes strong.
Boise State still holds the Group of Six position for now, but the Broncos’ grip on the 12 spot could change quickly depending on what happens against Oregon State in the near future.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Suddenly Has A Serious Drayk Bowen Concern Before Miami
Notre Dame is already juggling a few health questions coming out of the Navy game, and the biggest one may be at linebacker. Drayk Bowen suffered a lower right leg injury during the matchup, and with Miami next on the schedule, his availability is now uncertain at a spot where the Irish can least afford another setback.
Marcus Freeman also had to address the status of several other injured players, including Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Leonard Moore, Cooper Flanagan and Micah Gilbert, after a game in which Notre Dame leaned on substitutions and limited some players' workloads to get through it. The next few days should tell the story on Bowen, but for now it leaves one of the defense's key pieces very much in question heading into a major test. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Early Navy Gamble Is Raising Questions Fast
Chris Ashs early-game choices against Navy stood out right away, and not just because Notre Dame was trying to settle in on defense. The Irish mixed in reserve players early, including starting Christian Gray at cornerback and getting backup linebacker Anthony Rezac on the field on the opening drive, as the unit tried to sort out Navys option looks and keep the game under control.
Instead, Navy put together its longest offensive drive of the season during that stretch, and the Midshipmen briefly led 3-0 before Notre Dame answered to go ahead 7-3. The sequence has already put a spotlight on the defensive playcalling and the decision to lean on reserves so early, leaving plenty of room for questions about how much of the opening trouble was execution and how much was design. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Freeman Just Put Notre Dames Defensive Leadership Under Pressure
Marcus Freeman did not hide his frustration at halftime of Notre Dames game against Navy, and his comments cut straight to the heart of the defenses issues. He said the unit was being asked to run plays it did not know, a sign that the problems were not just about effort or physicality but about execution and communication in a game that demanded both.
Freeman also stressed that the defense had to play physically and stay away from panic, a message that carries extra weight when a head coach is openly questioning how the calls are being handled. The Irish were sharper after the break, but the halftime critique only adds pressure on defensive coordinator Chris Ash and leaves Notre Dames defensive leadership under a brighter spotlight moving forward. [Read more 🡒]