The last weekend in the sport before the College Football Playoff rankings commence was certainly not straightforward. Week 9 results further clouded the postseason outlook. Teams expected to be locks for the CFP are now anything but, and the programs supposedly safe in reaching bowl eligibility are looking much less certain after inexplicable losses.

That’s reflected in the Sports Illustrated latest bowl projections going into Week 10, which sees several shake-ups in the CFP pecking order. Georgia ascended to the top spot as the safe pick to win the SEC. Indiana continues to get lucky as it keeps up its title defense. LSU and Wake Forest are doing just enough to remain in the picture. 

Beyond the CFP, there are a number of compelling bowl games, including a BCS championship rematch nobody will be happy about in the Gasparilla Bowl, a compelling Mayo Bowl between two coaches who expected to be much further along this season, a CFP rematch in the Alamo Bowl between Oregon and Texas Tech and a compelling meeting of dual-threat QBs in Las Vegas that’s bound to produce a shootout.

College Football Playoff Projected Rankings After Week 9

1. Georgia
2. Indiana
3. Notre Dame
4. Miami
5. Utah
6. LSU
7. UCLA
8. BYU
9. Kentucky
10. Ohio State
11. Wake Forest
12. UTSA

First Round

• No. 12 UTSA at No. 5 Utah
• No. 11 Wake Forest at No. 6 LSU
• No. 10 Ohio State at No. 7 UCLA
• No. 9 Kentucky at No. 8 BYU

Quarterfinals

• Fiesta Bowl: No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 Utah
• Cotton Bowl: No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 UCLA
• Rose Bowl: No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 6 LSU
• Peach Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 BYU

Semifinals

• Orange Bowl: No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 LSU
• Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Miami

National Championship

• At Las Vegas: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 3 Notre Dame

Bowl Projections After Week 9

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