Not much has changed from last week's College Football Playoff predictions, but there are a couple of new teams to discuss. First, let’s talk about those who dropped out.
The once-predicted Big 12 champion, Utah, has finally dropped out of the 12-team playoff prediction. It now has two losses, both coming from former PAC 12 teams. The Utes just aren’t playing well without Cam Rising, and every time he steps on the field, he gets injured. Instead, another Utah team will take its place, but more on that later.
After Alabama lost to Vanderbilt, I kept the tide on because they tend to bounce back after losses. But that seems to be a trait only Nick Saban-led teams had. Sure, Alabama beats South Carolina, but it really wasn’t a great showing by either team. If the Gamecocks had a quarterback who could be clutch in the final seconds of the game and not throw an interception, they probably win and hand Alabama back-to-back losses for the first time in who knows how long.
In their place is BYU and a team no one was talking about before the season started, Navy.
2024 week six 12-team CFP prediction
Rank | Team | Why are they here | Previous rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Texas | SEC Champion | 2 |
2 | Ohio State | Big 10 Champion | 1 |
3 | Miami | ACC Champion | 3 |
4 | Iowa St | Big 12 Champion | 4 |
5 | Penn St | At-large | 5 |
6 | Clemson | At-large | 6 |
7 | Oregon | At-large | 7 |
8 | Georgia | At-large | 8 |
9 | Texas A&M | At-large | 9 |
10 | Boise St | MW Champion | 12 |
11 | BYU | At-large | Not Ranked |
12 | Navy | MW Champion | Not Ranked |
No, you didn’t read that wrong. Navy, the service Academy for the Naval branch of United States military, is 6–0 and predicted to make the inaugural College Football Playoffs. Of course, their schedule isn’t hard, but they are beating the tar out of teams.
They will play Notre Dame later in the season, and by then, the Irish could be a top-10 team. If Navy can knock off a top 10 Notre Dame team and beat another top 25 team in Army (yes, you read that right, too), there could be two non-power four teams in the playoffs.
BYU, although more believable, is also 6–0. The Cougars have no one left ahead of them that they should lose to. If they can meet Iowa State in the Big 12 championship and either win or lose by one score, they’ll be in the playoffs.