Overview

This past week was a rollercoaster in the realm of college football, proving that nothing is certain until teams hit the road for their conference games. The results from Week 6 have sent shockwaves through the rankings and playoff projections.

Notable Upsets

In a surprising upset, the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide faced defeat against Vanderbilt, signaling potential trouble as we head deeper into the season. Always a powerhouse, Alabama's loss has raised eyebrows and sparked debates about their playoff viability. Meanwhile, No. 4 Tennessee also stumbled, losing to Arkansas, and No. 9 Missouri fell to No. 25 Texas A&M. Furthermore, No. 10 Michigan's title hopes took a hit with a loss at Washington, and No. 11 USC managed to lose their second consecutive Big Ten road game against Minnesota.

Miami's Battle

Possibly creating more chaos, No. 8 Miami is currently in a battle against Cal, trailing in their first ACC road matchup and first outside Florida. The Hurricanes have become a crucial team to watch as they strive to maintain their projected path to the College Football Playoff.

Bowl Projections Shift

As we compare bowl projections from last week, the landscape has shifted significantly. Automatic qualifiers remain constant, with Miami still expected to clinch the ACC title, projected as the No. 3 seed. Conversely, the at-large berths have seen dramatic changes. Following the unexpected defeat, Alabama has fallen to the sixth position, while Oregon has climbed up to take the coveted fifth spot.

The once-projected 10th seed, Michigan, has shockingly dropped out of the playoff contention, making way for Clemson to reclaim that position. Texas A&M has made a triumphant return to the picture, now sitting at No. 11. The Aggies had dropped out after a rough start, losing to Notre Dame in their opener.

Current Projections

In total, our current projections feature four teams from the SEC, three from the Big Ten, and two each from the Big 12 and ACC. Notably, Boise State stands as the Group of Five representative from the Mountain West conference.

College Football Playoff Projected Matchups

**Quarterfinals:** **Date:** December 20 or 21 **Location:** Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Ore. - (5) Oregon vs. (12) Boise State (Winner faces (4) Miami) **Location:** Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa - (8) Iowa State vs. (9) Penn State (Winner faces (1) Texas) **Location:** Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala. - (6) Alabama vs. (11) Texas A&M (Winner faces (3) Utah) **Location:** Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. - (7) Georgia vs. (10) Clemson (Winner faces (2) Ohio State) As the season progresses, the stakes will only get higher. Keep an eye on these shifting dynamics as teams vie for their chance at glory in the College Football Playoff! The shocking losses of powerhouse teams are reshaping the future – will there be more surprises ahead? Stay tuned!