Update at 4 p.m. ET Saturday
The first window of action on Saturday produced plenty of thrilling games and quite the statement of intent from Alabama as it piled up 56 points on the road at a ranked Mississippi State team. There wasn’t quite enough early chaos to produce any notable shift in terms of teams in the bracket however, but it did shake things up slightly in terms of the ordering of some of the SEC programs.
As a result, the Crimson Tide are now hosting a first-round game, but they could ascend even further up the rankings depending on how the rest of the day goes with several more contenders in action later.
Update at noon ET Saturday
Is it too early to call this coming weekend ‘Separation Saturday’ or will College Football Playoff hopes continue to remain alive for a wide swath of teams in the sport? Given where we’re at with the calendar turning to October and the number of teams flirting with seeing their paths to an automatic qualifier fade, it might well be the former even before touching upon any of the ranked matchups on tap.
With that in mind, here’s how the bracket looks going into Week 5 before it’s set to shift significantly throughout a busy Saturday in the sport.
Live Week 5 College Football Playoff Bracket
- Texas
- Georgia
- Miami
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- Florida
- Indiana
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- LSU
- BYU
- Boise State
First Round
- No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State
- No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Florida
- No. 10 LSU at No. 7 Indiana
- No. 9 Mississippi at No. 8 Alabama
Quarterfinals
- Rose Bowl: No. 4 Notre Dame vs. winner of No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Ohio State
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Miami vs. winner of No. 11 BYU vs. No. 6 Florida
- Peach Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. winner of No. 10 LSU vs. No. 7 Indiana
- Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Texas vs. winner of No. 9 Mississippi vs. No. 8 Alabama
No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State
Boise State is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its memorable Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, which is yet another reminder that we’re all getting old. While the Broncos don’t seem to have their hands full in the Pac-12 home opener, that’s not the case for Ohio State ahead of a trip to Kinnick. The Buckeyes can at least take solace that it’s not a night game against potential CFP contender Iowa, but will be on full alert about the prospect of a low-scoring, knockout fight on the road on Saturday.
No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Florida
The Cougars are well rested ahead of a trip to TCU in a game they should win comfortably given the directions the two Big 12 contenders are heading in recent weeks. Still, it’s a tricky conference road game against a solid program, which is similar to what Florida is going to face as expectations are now fully upon the Gators as they head to Mizzou.
No. 10 LSU at No. 7 Indiana
The Tigers might as well be on an off week given the caliber of their in-state opponents coming to Death Valley on Saturday night, but they likely won’t mind given who their next six games are against. As for their potential opponents, Curt Cignetti didn’t seem too happy with his team’s effort against Northwestern last week in a way that doesn’t spell good news for upcoming opponents Rutgers.
No. 9 Mississippi at No. 8 Alabama
The tough part for the Rebels is that the loss to Florida is going to linger extra long before they can get it out of their mouth next week against Vandy. On the flip side, the Crimson Tide look like a bona fide national title contender if they play like they did amid the cowbells of Mississippi State. Quarterback Keelon Russell in his last three games: 76% passer, 970 yards, 10 TDs, zero INTs plus three scores on the ground. That’ll do.
Rose Bowl: No. 4 Notre Dame
Rainy conditions on the road against a team from the Carolina Triangle? Irish fans have seen that before and it typically doesn’t end well for their team. Thankfully, this year’s group seems to be a little different, overcoming the elements and a tricky Bill Belichick defense to notch a 15th win by double digits dating back to last season.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Miami
Is this the year Miami finally wins the ACC? If so, winning convincingly in adverse weather (rain and potential heavy thunderstorms on deck) and against a hostile crowd looking for a glimmer of hope under Dabo Swinney will more than underscore that this season winds up being the case.
Peach Bowl: No. 2 Georgia
There was no Jared Curtis to play against for Kirby Smart but that didn’t matter much for the Bulldogs as they continued to roll as part of an impressive start to the season. After throwing for three touchdowns and rolling up more than 400 yards of total offense as a team, is it maybe time to start giving Gunner Stockton his flowers at QB, too? Those in Athens, Ga., will certainly be saying so ahead of next week’s mega-matchup with Alabama.
Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Texas
The Longhorns are off this week ahead of their annual trip to Dallas for Red River. Strange things tend to happen in that game, no matter the records for either side, so one expects Steve Sarkisian & Co. not to take donning that golden hat lightly going into a must-win game against Oklahoma.
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