Alabama, Iowa State join Ohio State, Miami as top 4 seeds – News-Herald

By ERIC OLSON

Alabama and Iowa State are now the top four seeds in The Associated Press’ College Football Playoff forecast, with Texas getting a home game in the first round instead of a bye and Utah losing its bye and being eliminated from the round.

Top-ranked Alabama is No. 1 as the projected Southeastern Conference champion, while Ohio State is No. 2 of the Big Ten.

Miami remains the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Iowa State would be No. 4 as the top-ranked team in the Big 12.

Iowa State and Michigan are newcomers to the group. Mississippi joins Utah from the outside looking in.

SEC teams Texas, Tennessee and Georgia project to be ranked 5th through 7th and would host first-round games along with 8th-seeded Oregon.

A reminder about the format: The top four finishers will be assigned to the highest-ranked conference champions, regardless of their overall ranking. The top five ranked conference champions, regardless of league, are guaranteed spots in the field.

There is no cap on the number of teams that can participate in a conference. The CFP Selection Committee will begin ranking teams in November, but for now the AP Top 25 breakdown is:

• No. 9 Penn State and No. 8 Oregon. Winner against No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

• No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Texas. Winner against No. 4 Iowa State in the Fiesta Bowl.

• No. 10 Missouri and No. 7 Georgia. Winner against No. 2 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

• No. 11 Michigan and No. 6 Tennessee. Winner against No. 3 Miami in the Peach Bowl.

Entry this week: Iowa State, Michigan.

Excerpt: Mississippi, Utah.

Next five: No. 11 Southern California, No. 12 Mississippi, No. 13 LSU, No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 15 Clemson.

Originally published: September 29, 2024 at 2:47 p.m