While there were no eye-popping upsets in Week 9, we saw a pair of Indiana schools outside the top 10 make a case for their inclusion in the College Football Playoff.
Indiana remained unbeaten with a convincing win over Washington, while Notre Dame emphatically handed Navy its first loss.
Elsewhere, surprising Texas A&M emerged as the last SEC team without a loss in conference play, while Penn State and Ohio State each had a bit of a scare before securing wins over Wisconsin and Nebraska to set up a Week 10 showdown between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes.
What does it all mean for the College Football Playoff and the overall bowl picture?
In the new, expanded 12-team playoff, the five highest-ranked conference champions will make the field along with the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be awarded first-round byes, with the other eight teams meeting at the campus sites of the Nos. 5-8 seeds.
From there, the quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in what had been the New Year’s Six bowls, with this season’s national championship game scheduled for Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
All of that is just the tip of the iceberg, though. Apart from the playoff is the 36-game slate of bowls, from the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 14 to the Bahamas Bowl on Jan. 4.
We’re here for all of it.
ESPN bowl gurus Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are projecting every postseason matchup, including their breakdowns of how the CFP will play out, every week until the actual matchups are set on Selection Day (Dec. 8).
College Football Playoff
First-round games
Dec. 20-21 — ABC/ESPN or TNT Sports*
Bonagura: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Indiana
Schlabach: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Penn State
Bonagura: No. 11 Iowa State at No. 6 Penn State
Schlabach: No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 6 Ohio State
Bonagura: No. 10 Texas A&M at No. 7 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 10 Texas A&M at No. 7 Texas
Bonagura: No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Texas
Schlabach: No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Clemson
* Specific times and networks for each game TBD
First-round breakdown
Bonagura: Let’s talk about Indiana. The Hoosiers are 8-0, have never trailed and have won comfortably every week. They don’t have a marquee win, but neither does Penn State, which has fallen short of Indiana in just about every measurable way. If, say, Michigan or USC had Indiana’s exact résumé, they would be viewed as a possible No. 1 team. Past success is often a helpful indicator in preseason polls, but when a team is eight games into a season, any historical stigma shouldn’t matter. Indiana might eventually fall off, but I don’t see the logic right now in them being lower than No. 5.
Schlabach: Thanks for getting on the Indiana bus, Kyle. It’s about time. The Hoosiers have been unbelievably good under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, even after losing starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke this past week. Backup Tayven Jackson played well enough in a 31-17 win over Washington. The Hoosiers get Michigan State (road) and Michigan (home) before their ultimate test at Ohio State on Nov. 23. This was the most difficult week to hand out the final at-large berths. I went with Clemson, Indiana, Texas A&M and Notre Dame. It could have easily been Tennessee, Iowa State or Pitt (are we talking about the Panthers enough?). Under my scenario, it would be a TV ratings bonanza with Notre Dame going to Ohio State and Texas hosting rival Texas A&M.
CFP quarterfinals
Tuesday, Dec. 31
CFP Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 5 Indiana vs. No. 4 BYU
Schlabach: No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 4 BYU
Wednesday, Jan. 1
CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
1 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 3 Miami
Schlabach: No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Miami
CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
5 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 8 Texas vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 1 Oregon
CFP Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
8:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Georgia
Schlabach: No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Georgia
Quarterfinals breakdown
Bonagura: After years of blowouts in the four-team playoff, what stands out about these hypothetical matchups is that they all look like they would — or at least could — be competitive games. It’s hard to ask for more than that in the quarterfinal round of any sort of playoff. This is where the ACC and Big 12 have their chances to make a statement.
Schlabach: I had Penn State, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Clemson advancing out of the first-round games. The CFP selection committee would probably be content with the balance, with three teams from the Big Ten, two each from the ACC and SEC and one from the Big 12 playing in the quarterfinals. The Peach Bowl matchup between Miami and Ohio State and the Sugar Bowl game between Georgia and Texas A&M (two salty defenses) might be the most competitive. Then again, I’m probably still not giving undefeated BYU enough credit, like most everyone else in the country.
CFP semifinals, national championship game
Thursday, Jan. 9
CFP Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 5 Indiana vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 1 Oregon
Friday, Jan. 10
CFP Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 3 Miami vs. No. 2 Georgia
Schlabach: No. 3 Miami vs. No. 2 Georgia
Monday, Jan. 20
CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 1 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 1 Oregon
National championship breakdown
Bonagura: It still appears Dan Lanning is on a collision course with his former boss, Kirby Smart, in the national title game. The Ducks made quick work of No. 20 Illinois, have seemingly continued to improve as the season has gone along and have a manageable schedule the rest of the way. It’s possible whoever they play in the Big Ten title game will also be their opponent in the semifinal. Georgia, meanwhile, was off this week after its convincing win against Texas and is still the default No. 2.
Schlabach: I’m on board with Kyle with Georgia playing Oregon in the national championship game. The Ducks have looked awfully good the past few weeks. Lanning has them trending in the right direction after some early-season struggles. Georgia looked better in its 30-15 victory at Texas two weeks ago, especially on defense. The Bulldogs play a surging Florida team in Jacksonville on Saturday. Miami blasted Florida State 36-14 after a string of narrow wins over Virginia Tech, California and Louisville. Cam Ward is the type of quarterback who has given Georgia’s defense trouble in the past, but I’m not sure Miami would be good enough on defense to slow down the Bulldogs. I went with Penn State over BYU, but I don’t have as much confidence in the Nittany Lions against Ohio State this week, especially if quarterback Drew Allar isn’t healthy.
Complete bowl season schedule
Saturday, Dec. 14
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: Jackson State vs. NC Central
Schlabach: Jackson State vs. NC Central
Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: UConn vs. NC State
Schlabach: Ohio vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Texas State vs. North Texas
Schlabach: Arkansas State vs. North Texas
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: East Carolina vs. Georgia Southern
Schlabach: Miami (Ohio) vs. Tulane
LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: USC vs. UNLV
Schlabach: Washington vs. UNLV
Thursday, Dec. 19
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
7 p.m., ESPN2
Bonagura: Sam Houston vs. James Madison
Schlabach: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern
Friday, Dec. 20
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Bowling Green vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: East Carolina vs. Marshall
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Boston College vs. Oklahoma
Schlabach: North Carolina vs. Florida
Monday, Dec. 23
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
11 a.m., ESPN
Bonagura: South Florida vs. South Alabama
Schlabach: South Florida vs. Old Dominion
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
2:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Ohio vs. San José State
Schlabach: Toledo vs. Fresno State
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Hawai’i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Western Kentucky vs. Colorado State
Schlabach: Western Kentucky vs. Colorado State
Thursday, Dec. 26
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Toledo vs. Michigan State
Schlabach: Western Michigan vs. Michigan State
Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Michigan vs. Baylor
Schlabach: Nebraska vs. Cincinnati
68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Northern Illinois vs. Marshall
Schlabach: Jacksonville State vs. James Madison
Friday, Dec. 27
Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon or 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Arkansas vs. Rutgers
Schlabach: South Carolina vs. Boston College
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
Noon or 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Louisiana vs. Navy
Schlabach: West Virginia vs. Army
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
7 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. Missouri
Schlabach: Texas Tech vs. Vanderbilt
DirecTV Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
8 p.m.
Bonagura: SMU vs. Colorado
Schlabach: SMU vs. Colorado
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
10:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Vanderbilt vs. California
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Arizona State
Saturday, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Tulane vs. Georgia Tech
Schlabach: Memphis vs. NC State
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York City)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: Virginia Tech vs. Minnesota
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Wisconsin
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
2:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Fresno State vs. Arkansas State
Schlabach: San Diego State vs. South Alabama
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Pittsburgh vs. TCU
Schlabach: Pittsburgh vs. Iowa State
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m., CW Network
Bonagura: Western Michigan vs. San Diego State
Schlabach: Eastern Michigan vs. San José State
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
5:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Syracuse vs. Army
Schlabach: Georgia Tech vs. Navy
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
7:30 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Washington State
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. Washington State
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Florida vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Louisiana vs. Baylor
Monday, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Wisconsin vs. LSU
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Missouri
Tuesday, Dec. 31
ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Iowa vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Ole Miss
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Louisville vs. Arizona State
Schlabach: Duke vs. USC
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Illinois vs. Tennessee
Schlabach: Illinois vs. LSU
Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Cincinnati vs. South Carolina
Schlabach: TCU vs. Arkansas
Thursday, Jan. 2
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Clemson vs. Alabama
Schlabach: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
Friday, Jan. 3
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
4 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: West Virginia vs. Memphis
Schlabach: UConn vs. Northern Illinois
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Duke vs. Nebraska
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Minnesota
Saturday, Jan. 4
Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN2
Bonagura: Liberty vs. Miami (Ohio)
Schlabach: Sam Houston vs. Bowling Green
