2025 College Football Playoff, Bowl Predictions: CBS Sports updates projections for entire slate
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2025 College Football Playoff, Bowl Predictions: CBS Sports updates projections for entire slate
CBS Sports updated its projections for the College Football Playoff and its bowl game projections. The CFP is undergoing another change after increasing to 12 teams a year ago. Last season, the four highest-ranked conference champions received first-round byes. This year, the CFP will go to a straight-seeding model, meaning the fourhighest-ranked teams will receive byes and the five highest- ranked conference champions will still make the field. Here’s how CBS Sports sees it shaking out, as well as the full slate of bowl games that will follow. Click through the gallery to see the full projections for next year’s CFP and the entire bowl slate for the 2025 college football season, including the Sugar Bowl and the Cotton Bowl, for the full list of teams and their projected first round matches. The full projections are available on CBS Sports’ College Football playoff page. The team-by-team projections are based on the latest information available from the NCAA and are subject to change.
The CFP is undergoing another change after increasing to 12 teams a year ago. Last season, the four highest-ranked conference champions received first-round byes. Now, the College Football Playoff will go to a straight-seeding model, meaning the four highest-ranked teams will receive byes. The five highest-ranked conference champions will still make the field.
That means the CFP will look a bit different in 2025. Here’s how CBS Sports sees it shaking out, as well as the full slate of bowl games that will follow.
Projected Matchup: No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 12 Navy
A storied rivalry highlights the first round of CBS Sports’ projected College Football Playoff first round. It features No. 5-seeded Notre Dame taking on No. 12 seed Navy in what would be a rematch of their Nov. 8 matchup.
The Fighting Irish and Midshipmen have squared off every year since 1927, outside of the COVID-impacted 2020 season. Notre Dame enters the year looking to build off last year’s run to the national championship game – though still deciding who will play quarterback – while Navy broke out for a 10-3 season and a win over Army in the annual matchup.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning (© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)
Projected Matchup: No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 10 Georgia
In another projected first-round matchup, Dan Lanning would go up against his old boss. CBS Sports projects Oregon to come in as the No. 7 seed in the College Football Playoff and welcome Georgia to Eugene for a matchup at Autzen Stadium.
Lanning worked for Kirby Smart before taking over at Oregon in 2022, and he helped lead the Ducks to a Big Ten title in their first season in the conference last year. UGA, though, is looking to stay atop the SEC after winning the league championship last year to also secure a bye in the CFP.
Projected Matchup: No. 8 LSU vs. No. 9 Miami
Two teams looking for bounce-backs amid high expectations, LSU and Miami both appear in CBS Sports’ College Football Playoff projections. The Tigers have their quarterback returning in Garrett Nussmeier while the Hurricanes made a splash by landing Carson Beck out of the transfer portal as Cam Ward’s successor.
Miami entered last season with high expectations, but missed out on the ACC Championship with late losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse before finishing 10-3. LSU also had to deal with the departure of Jayden Daniels and saw Nussmeier step in well, throwing for more than 4,000 yards, and he’ll run it back looking to improve his NFL Draft stock along the way.
Projected Matchup: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Iowa State
After just missing out on last year’s College Football Playoff, CBS Sports projects Alabama to return to the bracket. The prediction has the Crimson Tide going up against an Iowa State team that surged down the stretch last season, but has its quarterback returning.
Rocco Becht is back in Ames after an impressive 2024 season and will look to help the Cyclones make another run in the Big 12. As for Alabama, the quarterback battle is ongoing, but offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb recently reiterated Ty Simpson is in the driver’s seat with training camp on the horizon.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl
Dabo Swinney, Clemson – © Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images
Projection: Clemson
Under the new College Football Playoff seeding model, the four highest-ranked teams will receive the first-round byes. CBS Sports projects Clemson to get one ahead of a huge year for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers.
Cade Klubnik is back after a breakout year and has a national championship in his sights, he told On3’s Pete Nakos. He’ll look to take another leap forward in Garrett Riley’s offense, which leads the nation with 80% returning production from last year, according to ESPN.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl
Projection: Texas
A new era is on the horizon at Texas as the Longhorns look to continue their quick rise in the SEC. Arch Manning is officially the starting quarterback and will get the keys to Steve Sarkisian’s offense.
Manning got some run while serving as Quinn Ewers’ backup, but it’s his show on a Texas team that made it to back to the College Football Playoff semifinals a year ago. CBS Sports projects the Longhorns to earn a bye in 2025, adding to the hype around a team that will have a slew of new faces on board.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl
Projection: Ohio State
The reigning national champion, Ohio State set an NFL Draft record for players selected. The Buckeyes still have core pieces in place, though, led by safety Caleb Downs on defense and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith on offense.
Ohio State is also in the midst of a quarterback battle as Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz vie for the job. Still, there’s plenty of buzz around the Buckeyes ahead of their high-profile season opener against Texas as they begin their quest for a repeat.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl
James Franklin, Penn State – © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Projection: Penn State
Penn State has one of the top returning cores in the Big Ten this year, and expectations are high once again. As a result, the Nittany Lions got a projected bye in CBS Sports’ College Football Playoff predictions.
The Nittany Lions have quarterback Drew Allar back, along with running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen – meaning the centerpieces of Andy Kotelnicki’s offense stuck around. While Abdul Carter is off to the NFL as the No. 3 overall pick, Penn State still has 65% of its returning production back, which adds to the excitement around the 2025 season.
All dates and times TBA
Hawaii Bowl
Air Force vs. Liberty
Boca Raton Bowl
Georgia Southern vs. Western Michigan
Cure Bowl
James Madison vs. Boise State
Arizona Bowl
San Jose State vs. Northern Illinois
Birmingham Bowl
Arkansas vs. UCF
Bahamas Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. Buffalo
Pinstripe Bowl
NC State vs. Wisconsin
Liberty Bowl
Kansas vs. Missouri
Los Angeles Bowl
Utah vs. UCLA
68 Ventures Bowl
Fresno State vs. Louisiana
New Mexico Bowl
UNLV vs. Texas State
Salute to Veterans Bowl
Bowling Green vs. Arkansas State
Military Bowl
North Carolina vs. Tulane
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Minnesota vs. Ohio
Independence Bowl
BYU vs. Oregon State
New Orleans Bowl
Jacksonville State vs. Marshall
Idaho Potato Bowl
Miami (OH) vs. Colorado State
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
TCU vs. Iowa
Fenway Bowl
Duke vs. ECU
Myrtle Beach Bowl
USF vs. Coastal Carolina
Armed Forces Bowl
Army vs. Toledo
Las Vegas Bowl
Nebraska vs. Arizona State
Frisco Bowl
UTSA vs. Sam Houston
First Responder Bowl
Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia
Gasparilla Bowl
Auburn vs. Memphis
Texas Bowl
Baylor vs. Texas A&M
Music City Bowl
Illinois vs. OIe Miss
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Florida State vs. Tennessee
Holiday Bowl
Pitt vs. Washington
Alamo Bowl
Kansas State vs. USC
Pop-Tarts Bowl
SMU vs. Texas Tech
ReliaQuest Bowl
Indiana vs. South Carolina
Gator Bowl
Louisville vs. Oklahoma
Citrus Bowl
Michigan vs. Florida
Sun Bowl
Syracuse vs. Washington State