College Football Playoff bracket for Week 5: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams

College Football Playoff bracket for Week 5: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams

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College Football Playoff bracket for Week 5: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams

College Football Playoff bracket for Week 5: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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There is a reason why the College Football Playoff is enhancing its strength-of-schedule metric for this year's 12-team field. 

The SEC is going to test the new metric. Four ranked matchups in Week 4 left five unbeaten teams in the SEC – a cast that includes Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State. We have four of those teams in our College Football Playoff bracket heading into Week 5. We also have a one-loss team. Is it Ole Miss or LSU? 

Here is the issue: there will be more cannibalization through October and November.

The Big Ten has three teams in our field – but one-loss Oregon is bound to get back in the mix after a 41-27 victory against USC. Iowa is an unexpected unbeaten team after a 20-19 victory against Michigan, and that could mean the Big 12 and ACC will struggle to get multiple bids down the road, especially if Notre Dame continues on its path. Will the SEC get the benefit of the doubt with that metric? At this point, it should. 

How do you sort out the picture after Week 4? Here is a look at the top four teams, the projected first-round matchups and the four teams on the college football playoff bubble heading into Week 5:

In: Florida  

Out: USC 

Projected College Football Playoff first-round byes 

No. 1 Texas (4-0, SEC champion) 

Texas has the best resume after September with victories against Ohio State and Tennessee. The Longhorns beat the Volunteers 20-17 at Neyland Stadium in Week 4 in the SEC opener. Colin Simmons had a school-record five sacks, and Texas totaled 10 sacks. Arch Manning (14 of 19, 201 yards, INT) took six sacks, but he led a pair of TD drives in a hostile road environment. Penalties and specials teams were issues, but the Longhorns have a much-needed bye week to clean that up before the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 10. 

No. 2 Notre Dame (4-0, Independent) 

Notre Dame buried Purdue 49-10 to complete the Big Ten wing of the schedule. Drayk Bowen scored the defense's third TD this season with a 15-yard fumble return off a Bryce Young sack.  CJ Carr (14 of 22, 237 yards, 3 TDs, INT) hit three different receivers for TDs. Aneyas Williams (14-80, TD) led the rushing attack. The strength-of-schedule metric will continue to be talked about, but the Irish look the part of national title contender. Notre Dame faces North Carolina in Week 5. 

No. 3 Indiana (4-0, Big Ten champion) 

Indiana beat Northwestern 29-23 in the Big Ten opener, and it came with a cost. Running back Turbo Richard (9-68) suffered a high-ankle sprain. Lee Beebe Jr. (24-203, TD) emerged as the lead back in Richard's place, and Josh Hoover (19 of 29, 201 yards, TD) had a steady performance. The Wildcats did manage 325 total yards and made it interesting in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers travel to Rutgers in Week 5. 

No. 4 Georgia (3-0, SEC at-large) 

Should Georgia be No. 1? We would not object after seeing the Bulldogs blow out Oklahoma 41-13 in Week 4. The Bulldogs forced four turnovers, including an 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Chris Cole. Gunner Stockton (14 of 25, 171 yards, TD, INT) connected with Tayln Taylor (4-110, TD), and Dwight Phillips Jr. (8-84, TD) stepped up with running back Nate Frazier out. Georgia faces Vanderbilt in Week 5. 

Projected College Football Playoff first-round matchups 

A look at Sporting News projected first-round College Football Playoff matchups heading into Week 5 of the college football season: 

No. 12 North Dakota State (4-0 Mountain West champion) at No. 5 Ohio State (3-1, Big Ten at-large) 

Ohio State still has a case as the best team in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes beat Illinois 42-19, and receiver Jeremiah Smith tied a school record with four TDs in a 12-catch, 217-yard performance which included a 72-yard TD in the first half. Julian Sayin (27 of 367 yards, 4 TDs) had his best game of the season. Illinois did manage 462 total yards – the most yardage against Ohio State with second-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes travel to Iowa in Week 5. 

It's safe to say the Bison have made the adjustment to the FBS. North Dakota State had a bye week after a perfect September in which the offense averaged 35 points per game with quarterback Nathan Hayes (808 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs). Defensive end Kalton McCaslin has 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. The Bison face Wyoming in Week 5. 

11. Texas Tech (4-0, Big 12 at-large) at No. 6 Miami (4-0, ACC champion)

Miami routed Central Michigan 52-3 to close out its non-conference schedule. Darian Mensah (23 of 37, 338 yards, 3 TDs) is 94 of 106 (88.7%) with 14 TDs and no interceptions through four games. Malachi Toney (6-120, TD) has three 100-yard games, and sophomore running back Chris Whealtey-Humprhey (11-104, TD) stepped up with Mark Fletcher Jr., who was out with an injury. Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten also missed the game. The Hurricanes travel to Clemson in Week 5. 

Texas Tech beat Sam Houston 49-14 – and linebacker Austin Romaine pulled off a rare feat with back-to-back interception returns for TDs on consecutive plays. Romaine added eight tackles in an impressive performance. Will Hammond (17 of 29, 224 yards, TD, 3 INTs) shook off three first-half turnovers, and the Red Raiders rolled up 251 rushing yards with 28 second-half points. Remember, BYU and Utah are not on the schedule. Texas Tech plays at Colorado in Week 5. 

No. 10 Ole Miss (3-1, SEC at-large) at No. 7 Alabama (4-0, SEC at-large) 

Alabama is the third highest-ranked SEC team after a 48-18 blowout against South Carolina. Keelon Russell (21 of 27, 365 yards, 4 TDs) added 35 rushing yards and a TD to his best performance yet, and Ryan Coleman-Williams (5-98, 2 TDs) continued his bounce-back season. The Crimson Tide also forced two turnoers. Kalen DeBoer has Alabama rolling heading into a Week 5 matchup at Mississippi State. 

The loss to Florida isn't a deal-breaker for the Rebels, but it's a reminder of the value of Kewan Lacy, who missed the matchup with a shoulder injury. Trinidad Chambliss (25 of 34, 298 yards, TD) led Ole Miss with 44 rushing yards and two TDs, but two turnovers and an inability to get off the field made a difference under coach Pete Golding. The LSU victory is in hand, but the schedule is brutal. Ole Miss has a bye week. 

No. 9 Florida (4-0, SEC at-large) at No. 8 BYU (3-0, Big 12 champion)

The Cougars remain our Big 12 championship pick after a bye week. Bear Bachmeier – who has 642 passing yards, 6 TDs and one interception – leads the Big 12 in passer rating. Running back LJ Martin (328 yards, 3 TDs) entered the weekend averaging a FBS-best 5.93 yards after contact, according to PFF.com. BYU returns from the bye week at TCU – and it's OK to circle the date for that Oct. 17 matchup against Notre Dame. 

This is not an overreaction. The Gators should climb into the top 10 after a convincing 52-28 victory against Ole Miss in Week 4 under first-year coach Jon Sumrall. Florida rolled up 302 rushing yards behind Jadan Baugh (29-142, 3 TDs) and Duke Clark (12-126, TD), which was more than enough for quarterback Aaron Philo (16 of 23, 196 yards, TD). The Gators scored 14 points off two Ole Miss turnovers. Florida plays at Missouri in Week 5. 

Projected College Football Playoff bubble teams 

LSU (3-1) 

The Tigers are our first team out – but it's close after a 35-6 blowout victory against Texas A&M put Lane Kiffin back on track in the SEC race. Sam Leavitt (17 of 23, 312 yards, 2 TDs, INT) was on point with a pair of 100-yard receivers in Jackson Harris (6-163, 2 TDs) and Winston Watkins Jr. (5-107), and the Tigers out-gained the Aggies 506-197. LSU faces McNeese State in Week 5. 

Iowa (4-0) 

The Hawkeyes pulled off an emotional 20-19 victory against Michigan under long-time coach Kirk Ferentz. Hank Brown threw the game-winning TD pass to Reece Vander Zee on the final play, and Iowa won its Big Ten opener in stunning fashion. That sets up a matchup against Ohio State – the lone ranked team left on the Hawkeyes' schedule. Iowa is in business. 

Utah (4-0) 

Utah is yet another unbeaten team in the Big 12 to keep an eye on. The Utes beat Iowa State 31-1. Utah jumped out to a 24-3 half-time lead on the road, and Wayshawn Parker (18–174, 2 TDs) had a season-high rushing total. Devon Dampier (18 of 27, 206 yards, 2 TDs) stayed on point, and the Utes withstood the Cyclones' second-half rally. Utah has a bye week before an Oct. 10 matchup with Kansas. 

Mississippi State (4-0) 

Kamario Taylor (27 of 38, 360 yards, 3 TDs, INT) is on fire for the Bulldogs, who continued their perfect start in a 31-24 victory against Missouri. Fluff Bothwell (25-122, TD) and Anthony Evans III (8-114) are part of an exciting supporting cast that levels up in the Week 5 home matchup against Alabama

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