Georgia has slipped from the top ranking in the YSL News Sports College Football Playoff bracket projection but remains within the 12-team lineup after an exciting matchup against Alabama on Saturday night.

This victory propels the Crimson Tide to the No. 1 position, largely due to the likelihood that the playoff selection committee ranks the ultimate SEC champion as the top seed.

Recovering from a daunting 28-0 deficit to lead in the final minutes showcases that this is not a devastating loss for the Bulldogs. Provided that Georgia can finish with just one loss, they will advance to the SEC championship game, where they could secure a top-four seed. In such a scenario, even a rematch with the Tide wouldn’t affect their playoff chances.

However, if Georgia suffers another loss, their playoff prospects become murkier. The fact that Alabama’s offense identified vulnerabilities in Georgia’s consistently strong defense—amassing 547 yards after the Bulldogs limited their opponents to only 606 yards in the first three games—could signal significant challenges ahead for Georgia in crucial SEC contests against No. 1 Texas, No. 4 Tennessee, and No. 12 Mississippi.

Currently positioned in the playoff field, the Bulldogs must sharpen their defense and help quarterback Carson Beck regain his form to prevent missing out on the playoffs for a second consecutive year. The first four teams just outside the cut include two SEC teams, Missouri and Mississippi, alongside Notre Dame and Michigan.

Current College Football Playoff Projections

As October begins, leading teams have emerged in three of the Power Four conferences. Alabama leads the SEC, Ohio State is in front in the Big Ten, and Miami is at the top of the ACC following a challenging game against Virginia Tech.

In contrast, the Big 12 remains highly unpredictable. Kansas State was previously in the lead but lost to Brigham Young. Utah had its chance to take over until their loss against Arizona. The Utes need quarterback Cam Rising to return to the lineup to regain their momentum.

A notable contender making its way up the rankings is Iowa State. With a solid non-conference victory over Iowa, the Cyclones have yet to face the bulk of their Big 12 schedule. They might remain under the radar until later in the season when they face the Utes and Kansas State to conclude the regular season.

For the moment, Kansas State’s convincing victory over Oklahoma State repositions them at the top, while Iowa State takes over from Utah as an at-large candidate.

A number of strong competitors from power conferences remain on the outskirts of the field, including Southern California, Missouri, Michigan, LSU, Notre Dame, and Mississippi following last week’s setback against Kentucky. Missouri stands as the only unbeaten team in that group, but they all have ample opportunities to secure their spots in the playoffs going forward.

Four Teams Worth Watching

SMU

With a record of 4-1 after a dominant win over Florida State, SMU is surpassing early predictions as new members of the ACC. This Saturday’s significant clash against Louisville is crucial. A win there would place the Mustangs on track toward the conference title game, especially since they won’t face Miami and Clemson during the regular season.

Indiana

Consider this: Indiana stands at 5-0 for the first time since they last won the Big Ten and made it to the Rose Bowl in 1967. With upcoming games against Northwestern, Nebraska, Washington, and Michigan State, the Hoosiers are well-positioned to rise in the playoff rankings before facing off against Michigan and Ohio State in early November.

Boise State

UNLV recently earned the top rank in the Group of Five after a dominant performance against Fresno State, with new quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams stepping in for former starter Matthew Sluka. However, Boise State has made its presence felt with a 45-17 victory over the previously unbeaten Washington State. The Broncos are set to square off against UNLV on October 25 in what could be the most significant game of the Group of Five regular season.

Army and Navy

Both service academies are experiencing a 4-0 start for the first time since 1945, and each has notched three wins in the American Athletic Conference to sit at the top of early conference standings. Navy, in particular, has excelled offensively, ranking fifth in the nation in yards per play, fifth in rushing yards per game, and ninth in scoring. Army has maintained a comfortable margin, winning each of their games by at least 17 points.