Bowl predictions: Ohio State slides into college football playoff after USC falls in Pac-12 Championship game

The Pac-12 has officially eliminated itself from the College Football Playoff for the sixth straight season, while the Big Ten appears poised to become the second conference in event history to put two teams in a single four-team field, joining the SEC. It all comes as No. 5 Ohio State’s hopes of competing for a national championship got new life Friday night as No. 4 USC was eliminated 47-24 by No. 11 Utah in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game.

If the Buckeyes were selected by the CFP selection committee, they would almost certainly finish in fourth place and make the playoffs for the third time in the past four seasons. Ohio State beat Clemson 49-28 in the semifinals two years ago before eventually falling to Alabama in the 2021 CFP National Championship. The #6 Crimson Tide is unlikely to jump the Buckeyes into last place this year given both teams are down this week and OSU has one fewer loss on the season.

In action to start the tournament Saturday is No. 3 TCU facing No. 10 Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Horned Frogs have clinched a spot in the CFP, and although they are unlikely to fall lower than they currently stand in No. 3 even with the loss They could move to No. 1 or No. 2 with a win plus losses from No. 1 Georgia and/or No. 2 Michigan later in the day.

College Football Playoff

With the Utes defending their Pac-12 title and beating the Trojans for the second time this season, Utah will take the Pac-12’s spot in the Rose Bowl where it is expected to face No. 8 Penn State. Although Nittany Lions He might have been picked by the Rose Bowl anywayThey now do not consider the game as the highest-ranked Big Ten team and do not play in the CFP.

Ohio State’s advance in the CFP opened up a spot in the Orange Bowl where it was previously expected to play the ACC champion, which for that bid was No. 9 Clemson (vs. No. 23 North Carolina on Saturday). Its place is seventh-ranked Tennessee, the highest-ranked team remaining from either the SEC group, the Big Ten, or Notre Dame.

The Volunteers were originally projected for the Cotton Bowl against prospective AAC champion No. 18 Tulane (vs. No. 22 UCF on Saturday). Replacing the Vols are the Trojans, who will enter the New Year’s six at No. 12 Washington and No. 13 Florida State.

The Six Cup Games for the New Year

More changes are sure to come as the tournament continues into the Saturday weekend.

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