Utah enters CFP bracket while Alabama moves up to No. 2 seed
Mid-season updates place Utah in the College Football Playoff field and elevate Alabama to the second seed, with several bowl projections also revised after Week 5.
Alabama’s 56-23 victory over previously unbeaten Mississippi State reinforced its status as a College Football Playoff contender, prompting analysts to move the Crimson Tide up to the No. 2 seed in the projected bracket. Utah, meanwhile, secured a spot in the playoff field for the first time this season, according to the latest projections released after Week 5.
The updated outlook also reshuffled the top-12 CFP rankings and added new teams to the bowl picture. Florida State entered the bowl projections after a 31-point win over Virginia, while several other matchups were outlined, including South Carolina State vs. Alabama State in the Cricket Celebration and Kennesaw State vs. Old Dominion in the Salute to Veterans.
In conference play, Georgia is set to face Alabama next week, and the SEC now holds two of the projected top four seeds. Texas remains the top-ranked team overall but sits outside the top-four seed group, highlighting the competitive balance within the conference.
Other notable updates include Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian State in the 68 Ventures game, and a projected Peach Bowl featuring Oregon against Miami, maintaining Miami’s No. 1 seed. The Cotton Bowl is projected to pit Indiana against Alabama, reflecting the Tide’s rise in the rankings.
The revised projections also note injuries and performance trends, such as Pittsburgh’s quarterback Mason Heintschel being sidelined for the season after a leg injury, and Michigan’s coaching staff evaluating offensive adjustments following a loss at Minnesota.