Week 10 Impact: CFB Playoff & New Year’s Six Projections

**College Football Playoff Picture Sees Major Shake-Up After Week 10; Alabama Re-Enters Top Four Contention**

**NATIONAL — November 5, 2023** — The landscape of the college football playoff took a dramatic turn following a pivotal Week 10 slate of games, with significant wins and stunning upsets reshaping the path to the coveted four-team playoff and the New Year’s Six bowls. While the top three contenders largely held serve, a resurgent Alabama and a fallen Oklahoma created the weekend’s most impactful shifts.

The most significant movement came from Tuscaloosa, where No. 8 Alabama delivered a dominant 42-28 victory over No. 14 LSU in a highly anticipated SEC West showdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The win, fueled by a powerful ground game, not only kept the Crimson Tide’s SEC Championship hopes alive but also propelled them back into the projected top four, now eyeing a potential No. 4 seed. For LSU, the loss effectively extinguished any remaining playoff aspirations, though a strong finish could still land them in a quality bowl.

At the very top, the nation’s undefeated powerhouses maintained their positions with convincing performances. No. 1 Georgia, after a tougher-than-expected first half, pulled away from No. 12 Missouri for a 30-21 win at home, solidifying their projected No. 1 seed status. No. 2 Ohio State continued their perfect season with a 35-16 road victory over Rutgers, remaining firmly in the No. 2 spot. No. 4 Florida State, also undefeated, dispatched Pitt 24-7 on the road to hold steady at No. 3. Rounding out the projected top four, No. 3 Michigan continued its dominant run with a 41-13 win against Purdue, though analysts continue to scrutinize their strength of schedule compared to other one-loss contenders.

The weekend’s biggest casualty was No. 9 Oklahoma, whose playoff hopes took a severe blow in the Bedlam rivalry game. The Sooners fell 27-24 to No. 22 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, a loss that effectively dashed their playoff ambitions and sent them tumbling in the projected rankings. This outcome significantly impacts the Big 12 race, leaving No. 7 Texas, who previously lost to Oklahoma, still in contention for the Big 12 Championship game but now projected outside the playoff picture, needing substantial help to climb back in. The Big 12 now faces a chaotic path to a potential playoff spot, likely needing a one-loss conference champion.

Beyond the playoff, the New Year’s Six bowl picture also gained clarity. No. 10 Ole Miss and No. 15 Louisville are making strong cases for at-large bids, showcasing consistent performances throughout the season. The Pac-12 Conference championship game is shaping up to be a de facto playoff quarterfinal for one of those coveted spots, with No. 6 Oregon and No. 5 Washington both projected to meet, and the winner likely securing a playoff berth or a major bowl.

For the Group of Five conference champion’s automatic New Year’s Six bid, No. 23 Tulane remains the projected favorite after their latest victory, maintaining their strong hold on that prestigious spot. In the Big Ten West, the race for the conference championship game remains tight between Iowa and Wisconsin, with both teams battling for the right to face likely Ohio State or Michigan. Meanwhile, No. 11 Penn State, after earlier losses to Ohio State and Michigan, is out of playoff contention but is still aiming for a significant New Year’s Six bowl appearance.

With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, the stakes will continue to rise as teams jockey for conference championship bids and the ultimate prize: a spot in the College Football Playoff. The committee’s next set of rankings, due out Tuesday, are expected to reflect these dramatic Week 10 shifts.