ESPN’s Heather Dinich projects 12-team Playoff field before bracket reveal
By David Wasson
Published:
When the final College Football Playoff rankings are unleashed on the world Sunday starting at noon ET on ESPN, the focus is narrowing to two teams’ futures: Alabama and Miami.
ESPN college football analyst discussed this in her final CFP projections Sunday morning, noting Alabama’s poor performance against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game potentially getting in over a Miami team that knocked off Notre Dame in August but didn’t qualify for the ACC Championship Game.
Here’s is Dinich’s CFP Top 12 rankings, which of course will differ from the CFP field due to the 5 highest-ranked conference champions receiving automatic bids – which likely will put Sun Belt champ James Madison ahead of ACC champ Duke:
- Indiana
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
- Miami
- BYU
Dinich’s final CFP bracket reflects the inclusion of both James Madison and American Conference champion Tulane:
First-round byes
No. 1 Indiana (Big Ten champ)
No. 2 Ohio State
No. 3 Georgia (SEC champ)
No. 4 Texas Tech (Big 12 champ)
First-round games
On campus, Dec. 19 and 20
No. 12 James Madison (Sun Belt champ) at No. 5 Oregon
No. 11 Tulane (American champ) at No. 6 Ole Miss
No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Texas A&M
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma
Quarterfinal games
At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
No. 12 James Madison/No. 5 Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech
No. 11 Tulane/No. 6 Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia
No. 10 Alabama/No. 7 Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
No. 9 Notre Dame/No. 8 Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
