Bowl projections: Major changes to playoff field after Week 5 results

There was always going to be significant changes needed to the College Football Playoff bracket this week with Georgia and Alabama facing off in the final Saturday of September.

What wasn’t expected was a surprising loss by Utah that knocked the Utes completely out of the playoff field. Granted, Utah is still missing quarterback Cam Rising, and it’s possible his return gets them back to the favorite position in the Big 12. But with that uncertainty lingering, Kansas State – fresh off its defeat of Oklahoma State – goes from out of the field into a first-round bye as conference championship. Iowa State still looms behind the Wildcats. Cyclones have their toughest games in November and potentially move up.

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The Group of Five representative also gets a revision. UNLV dominated Fresno State, showing no ill effects of losing its quarterback to an NIL dispute. The Rebels play Boise State in Week 9 that could be the first of two games between the Mountain West teams that decide a playoff spot. James Madison, which occupied the position last week, still remains in the mix but may be hurt by a lack of schedule strength. Time will tell.

Note: Legacy Pac-12 schools in other conferences will fulfill existing Pac-12 bowl agreements through the 2025 season.