College Football Playoff bracket for Week 8: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams

The college football gods are telling you something. 

What is your interpretation? A few days after reports an expansion from to a 24-team College Football Playoff is close, the sport served up a reminder why the 12-team model deserves more time.

Five of the top seven teams in the AP Top 25 lost. A spectacular Week 7 unfolded that shook up our College Football Playoff bracket heading into the second half of the season. We have very little confidence this projection will hold up. 

Three SEC heavyweights – Georgia, Texas and Alabama – lost on the same weekend for the first time in 30 years. We have three SEC teams in and four more just outside the field. Is it the nine-game conference schedule or the lack of a dominant team? 

Ohio State beat Indiana 19-15 – but quarterback Julian Sayin's arm injury will make the Big Ten championship path much more difficult. There is one unbeaten Big Ten team left. UCLA, of course.

Top 10 losses in Week 7

There will be a new No. 1 for the third consecutive week, but it won't be Notre Dame. The Irish lost 28-24 to BYU in controversial fashion. Miami beat Florida State 43-35 in double overtime on a hard-to-confirm walk-off interception on fourth-and-31. The Hurricanes will be on top, at least for now.  

Yeah, it was that kind of weekend. This already has all the wackiness and week-to-week upheaval we see on Sundays in the NFL. There is absolutely no reason to double the field. 

How do you sort out the picture heading after Week 7? Will it look like that next week?  

Here is a look at the top four teams, the projected first-round matchups and the four teams on the college football playoff bubble heading into Week 8.

Out: Texas, Alabama

In: Tennessee, Utah

Projected College Football Playoff first-round byes 

No. 1 Miami (6-0, ACC champion)

Bryce Fitzgerald's interception in the end zone ended a wild rivalry matchup with Florida State, and the Hurricanes will be ranked No. 1 as a result. Darian Mensah (23 of 34, 326 yards, 3 TDs, INT) led two scoring drives in overtime, and receiver Malachi Toney (11-154, 2 TDs) had the game-winning TD. Miami racked up 583 total yards, and the offense is national-championship caliber There might be a few questions about the defense – but the rest of the top contenders have more right now. The Hurricanes face Pitt in Week 8. 

No. 2 Ohio State (6-1, Big Ten champion)  

The Buckeyes beat Indiana 19-15 in the top-five Big Ten matchup, but it came at a cost. Julian Sayin (arm) will miss "several weeks" after suffering a second-half injury. Freshman Luke Fahey takes over at quarterback – and the schedule heats up for the rest of the regular season. Jeremiah Smith (4-68, TD) has nine TDs in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes limited the Hoosiers to 79 rushing yards. Ohio State has a well-timed bye week before the trip to USC on Oct. 31. 

No. 3 Georgia (6-1, SEC champion) 

Who else would you put here? The Bulldogs lost 27-24 to Auburn despite jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first half. Gunner Stockton (22 of 34, 272 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) helped Georgia erase a 10-point second-half deficit, but the Bulldogs had three turnovers and a missed field goal. A roughing the passer penalty led to the game-winning field goal for the Tigers. It's a rare shank against an unranked opponent for coach Kirby Smart. Georgia has a bye week before facing Florida on Oct. 31.

MORE: Auburn adds to history of knocking off No. 1

No. 4 BYU (6-0, Big 12 champion) 

Respect the Big 12. The Cougars were double-digit underdogs and still found a way to beat Notre Dame in a thriller at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Bear Bachmeier (23 of 36, 224 yards, TD, INT) had two rushing TDs and even added a 15-yard TD catch on a pass from Kyler Kasper. Bachmeier led the go-ahead drive with a game-winning TD pass to Walker Lyons with 1:47 remaining. Utah is the only ranked opponent left on the schedule. BYU faces UCF in Week 8.

MORE: Watch ND QB CJ Carr botch spike before halftime

Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Projected College Football Playoff first-round matchups 

A look at Sporting News projected first-round College Football Playoff matchups heading into Week 8 of the college football season: 

No. 12 Boise State (5-1, Pac-12 champion) at No. 5 Indiana (6-1, Big Ten at-large) 

The Hoosiers nearly pulled off the game-winning TD in the final minute against Ohio State, but receiver Nick Marsh was out of bounds in the end zone on a fourth-and-4 pass. That ended Indiana's 22-game win streak. A pair of second-half turnovers didn't help, and Josh Hoover (20 of 40, 296 yards, TD) did not have enough run support. Indiana travels to Michigan in Week 8. 

Boise State has the inside track on the Group of 6 playoff team halfway through the season. Quarterback Maddux Madsen (1,296 yards, 13 TDs, 0 INTs), and running back Dylan Riley (835 rushing yards, 6 TDs) lead a balanced offense that averages 35 points per game and the Broncos continue their season in Week 8 at Washington State. Remember, Boise State has a built-in flex game on the schedule.

No. 11 Utah (6-0, Big 12 at-large) at No. 6 Notre Dame (6-1, Independent at-large) 

This is the landing spot for the Irish given it was a close loss to BYU on the road. CJ Carr (27 of 49, 261 yards) nearly led the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, and a no-call on the final pass to Jaden Greathouse will be talked about in South Bend for the rest of the season. Notre Dame, however, made critical mistakes – included a botched spike at the end of the first half. The Irish have less margin for error now heading into a bye week before an Oct. 31 date against Navy. 

Should Utah be the third Big 12 in the field? Kentucky or Iowa could fit here out of the SEC or Big Ten, but the Utes still have the benefit of being unbeaten after a 27-24 victory against Colorado. Devon Dampier (24 of 41, 278 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) helped the Utes build a 13-0 half-time lead, but the Buffaloes made it a one-score game in the fourth quarter. Still, first-year coach Morgan Scalley has a perfect first-half start. 

No. 10 Tennessee (6-1, SEC at-large) at No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1, SEC at-large) 

These teams play in the regular season. Ole Miss dismantled Missouri 31-3 – and the Rebels look like the second-best team in the SEC, at least for this week. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (20 of 36, 241 yards, 3 TDs) can be trusted the most. Kewan Lacy (16-122) and Makhi Frazier (15-101) powered a rushing attack that rolled up 257 rushing yards, and the Ole Miss defense limited Missouri running back Jamal Roberts to 20 carries for 39 yards. The Rebels travel to Texas in Week 8. 

DeSean Bishop (32-159, 2 TDs) carried the load for Tennessee in a 26-10 victory against Alabama that offset the 20-17 loss to Texas on Sept. 26. Georgia MacIntyre (21 of 31, 197 yards, INT) managed the offense, and the defense had five sacks and forced four Crimson Tide turnovers. The Vols' remaining schedule is friendly, with the toughest matchups left being home games against Kentucky (Nov. 7) and LSU (Nov. 21). The Vols play South Carolina in Week 8.

No. 9 Texas Tech (6-0, Big 12 at-large) at No. 8 UCLA (6-0, Big Ten at-large) 

UCLA beat Wisconsin 17-7 in a victory that showed first-year coach Bob Chesney can win a slugfest against a traditional Big Ten opponent. Ty Dieffenbach (22 of 33, 264 yards, INT) did not make game-changing mistakes while the Bruins grinded out 120 rushing yards. The Badgers had just 214 total yards and were 3 of 10 on third down. UCLA stays home for its next two games against Michigan State and Nevada. This story is not over. 

Texas Tech finally had the blowout victory everybody has been waiting for. The Red Raiders routed Arizona State 55-23. Will Hammond (18 of 26, 232 yards, TD) was effective, and Ja'Koby Williams (11-165, 2 TDs) had a season-high total on the ground. Kenny Johnson (7-120) added his second 100-yard receiving game. Texas Tech travels to Cincinnati in Week 8. 

Projected College Football Playoff bubble teams 

Kentucky (6-1)

Kentucky beat Oklahoma 21-13 behind steady play from Kenny Minchey (21 of 28, 158 yards, 2 TDs). Kentucky managed just 72 rushing yards, but the Wildcats took advantage of three interceptions by Sooners quarterback John Mateer; the last a 41-yard interception return by Jordan Castell. Kentucky does have a 45-17 blowout loss against Alabama on the resume, but they are on a roll with first-year coach Will Stein. The Wildcats play Vanderbilt in Week 8. 

Iowa (5-1) 

The Hawkeyes had a bye week – and the path to the program's first playoff appearance is open under long-time coach Kirk Ferentz. Quarterbacks Hank Brown (832 yards, 5 TDs, INT) and Jeremy Hecklinski (410 yards, 4 TDs, INT) have combined for a 62.6% completion percentage behind a rushing attack that averages 209.2 rushing yards per game and a defense that allows 14.5 ppg. Iowa's remaining opponents are from the old Big Ten West – starting with Minnesota in Week 8. 

LSU (5-2) 

LSU bounced back with a 31-0 victory against Mississippi State, which played without star quarterback Kamario Taylor (foot). Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt (31 of 38, 289 yards, 4 TDs) helped make short work of the Bulldogs. LSU has outscored three Power 4 opponents 116-16 at Tiger Stadium. That's worth knowing with future home games against Alabama (Nov. 7) and Texas (Nov. 14). A road trip to Auburn is next. 

Texas (4-2) 

Florida beat Texas 27-24 – the second straight season the Gators have knocked off the Longhorns in SEC play. Arch Manning (14 of 20, 173 yards, TD) took five sacks, and Texas 2 of 10 on third-down conversions. It's been a disastrous two-week stretch from No. 1 in the AP Poll to the fringe of the playoff picture – and the path back to contention starts with a Week 8 matchup against Ole Miss.

MORE: Steve Sarkisian reviewing 'everything' about the Longhorns' offense

Alabama (5-2) 

The Crimson Tide lost to Tennessee – their third consecutive loss at Neyland Stadium. Keelon Russell (19 of 29, 147 yards, 2 INTs) struggled behind a rushing attack that managed just 54 yards on 2.1 yards per carry. Alabama committed four turnovers, and third-year coach Kalen DeBoer lost back-to-back games for the first time. The Crimson Tide resumes action against Texas A&M in Week 8. 

USC (6-1) 

The Trojans have every opportunity to work into the Big Ten and CFP race under coach Lincoln Riley. Jayden Maiava (2,045 yards, 18 TDs, 3 INTs) leads a high-powered offense that averages 36.4 points per game – and USC still has dates with Ohio State (Oct. 31), Indiana (Nov. 14) and UCLA (Nov. 18). First, the Trojans must first take care of business with a trip to Wisconsin. The defense has to step up.