"Below you'll find one team in the spotlight for each of the Power 4 leagues and another identified as an enigma. We've also tiered schools into four groups. Teams with Would be in status are featured in this week's top 12 projection, a snapshot of what the selection committee's ranking would look like if it were released today. A team with Work to do is passing the eye test (for the most part) and has a chance at winning its conference, which means a guaranteed spot in the playoff. And a team that Would be out is playing in the shadows of the playoff -- for now."
"Spotlight: LSU. The Tigers dropped out of the top 12 projection following their loss to Ole Miss because they didn't look like a playoff team: 2-of-11 on third downs, 59 rushing yards, seven penalties and one turnover. The LSU defense allowed 13 explosive plays, its most in a single game since the 2024 season opener against USC. Offensively, LSU managed just three explosive plays -- its fewest in a game since 2018. Still, it was a close loss on the road, and LSU has plenty of chances to get back into the race. Unless it continues to play like that. According to ESPN Analytics, LSU's chances of reaching the SEC title game dropped to 2.9"
Penn State fell to No. 12 in the College Football Playoff projection following a double-overtime loss to Oregon and faces a critical road game at Ohio State on Nov. 1. The projection categorizes teams into four tiers: Would be in, Work to do, Would be out, and On the cusp, with On the cusp identifying true bubble teams just outside the bracket. The 13-member selection committee does not always align with predictive models, so historical committee tendencies and team résumés influence rankings. LSU dropped out of the top 12 after an Ole Miss defeat marked by poor third-down performance, limited rushing, penalties, turnovers, and few explosive plays.
Read at ESPN.com
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