Week 10 Wins Reshape Bowl and Playoff Projections

Georgia’s decisive win over Ole Miss strengthened its position ahead of the selection committee’s next rankings, while Notre Dame’s defeat of previously unbeaten Miami appeared to put the Fighting Irish in strong position for a playoff berth. The Week 10 results also shifted projected bowl lineups across the country.

The projections include the possibility of two three-loss SEC teams earning at-large playoff spots. Five SEC teams in the bracket would set a record for one conference, with the league expected to be a focus in the remaining weeks of the regular season.

Among the projected bowl pairings, Louisville would face Minnesota in the Gasparilla Bowl, UCF would meet Washington in the Independence Bowl, and Michigan would play Cincinnati in the Cactus Bowl. The Frisco Bowl projection pairs Liberty with New Mexico, which improved to 8-1 after a 28-point win over Nevada.

New Mexico is ranked No. 22 in the AP poll but was not included in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The Lobos are competing with Boise State for the Group of Six playoff place, and coach Jason Eck said the team can control its own results by winning the conference title.

Other projections include Syracuse or Boston College in the new San Juan Bowl, with their November 21 matchup potentially affecting bowl eligibility. Memphis is positioned to contend in the American, while Duke’s strong finish could help it secure a favorable ACC bowl invitation.