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After Week 1’s full slate, Sports Illustrated has adjusted its College Football Playoff projections. A handful of surprising performances — and a few expected ones — shook up seeding enough to redraw the bracket heading into the season’s opening weeks.
Live Week 1 College Football Playoff bracket
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- LSU
- Miami
- Georgia
- Texas
- Oregon
- Indiana
- Mississippi
- USC
- BYU
- Boise State
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First round
- No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Georgia
- No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Texas
- No. 10 USC at No. 7 Oregon
- No. 9 Mississippi at No. 8 Indiana
Quarterfinals
- Peach Bowl: No. 4 Miami vs. winner of No. 12 Boise State/No. 5 Georgia
- Cotton Bowl: No. 3 LSU vs. winner of No. 11 BYU/No. 6 Texas
- Rose Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. winner of No. 10 USC/No. 7 Oregon
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 1 Notre Dame vs. winner of No. 9 Mississippi/No. 8 Indiana
No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Georgia
Georgia looked comfortable opening its season against an FCS opponent in Athens, but the Bulldogs still have a gauntlet of SEC tests ahead. Youth and depth will be examined as conference play begins.
Boise State, meanwhile, put up a strong showing at Oregon despite the 34–27 loss. That performance reinforced the Broncos’ reputation as the early Group of 6 favorite and made their matchup with Memphis suddenly much more important in the eyes of the committee.
No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Texas
Arch Manning and Texas cruised in a lopsided victory, with wide receiver Cam Coleman drawing praise after several big plays. The Longhorns got a tune-up that should help heading into next week’s marquee game against Ohio State.
BYU’s opener also impressed. Sports Illustrated still projects the Cougars as a top Big 12 contender, and their early showing keeps them squarely in the conversation for a playoff berth if they sustain that level of play.
No. 10 USC at No. 7 Oregon
Oregon escaped a scare at home, holding off Boise State 34–27 after allowing several long scoring drives. The Ducks flashed offensive upside but showed defensive lapses they’ll need to fix before facing a difficult conference slate.
USC’s staff held its starters longer in Week Zero and turned in a convincing shutout against Fresno State. With freshmen stepping up on offense, the Trojans have quiet momentum as they adjust to life in the Big Ten.
No. 9 Mississippi at No. 8 Indiana
This matchup is the week’s only ranked-versus-ranked game. There are questions about the defending champion’s balance after a sluggish start; the ground game needs work and the defense left room for improvement. A new quarterback posted a promising debut in the opener, but it’s clear the team still has adjustments to make.
Peach Bowl: No. 4 Miami
Miami opened with an emphatic performance in the Bay Area. Malachi Toney’s breakout night has already drawn Heisman chatter and gives the Hurricanes an early statement in the ACC.
Cotton Bowl: No. 3 LSU
LSU’s dominant win over Clemson did more than check a box. It elevated the Tigers’ standing and marked them as an SEC force early in the season — a notable development for a roster many consider among the most expensive in the sport.
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State
Ohio State handled its warmup in Columbus as expected. Jeremiah Smith made highlight plays, new defenders contributed, and the program celebrated a ceremonial moment with a former coach honored at the stadium.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 1 Notre Dame
Notre Dame returns with a palpable chip on its shoulder after last season’s playoff snub. The Irish face an early test at Lambeau Field against a tougher Wisconsin team, a game that could set the tone for their season-long push.
PODCAST: Sports Illustrated’s college show, Others Receiving Votes, hosted by Pat Forde, offers deeper breakdowns of these teams and matchups and is available on major podcast platforms and SI’s channels.
