2024 Week Eight 12-team College Football Playoff rankings prediction

Tennessee met Alabama in Neyland Stadium, where a potential spot in the College Football Playoff was on the line. Both teams came into the weekend with one loss, but Alabama ended the weekend with two. 

The Vols were dominant on defense in their 24-17 win over Alabama. Heisman contender and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe struggled to build any momentum against Tennessee's defense. The Crimson Tide offense only had three yards in its final four drives, ending any chance it had at winning the game. 

It looked like the Tennessee offense, with Nico Iamaleava as the quarterback, also started to figure things out in the second half. They were shut out in the first half for the third straight game but rallied against Alabama's defense and put points on the board through the air and on the ground. 

Georgia and Texas also faced off in a game, and the Bulldogs dominated the Longhorns in Austin to continue shaking up the SEC and College Football Playoff picture. 

Texas scored two touchdowns early in the third quarter, but the Georgia defense was lockdown for the rest of the game, proving that they were worthy of National Title contention. 

The shakeup adds to the chaos throughout this football season. There weren't any crazy upsets, but Texas and Alabama both losing after being considered potential national champions couldn't have been on many people's bingo cards. 

With the new 12-team Playoff, here is how it will look: Power 4 conference champions receive automatic bids and the top four rankings. The top Group of Five champion is the fifth team to receive an automatic bid, while seeds six through 12 are all at-large bids. Seeds five through eight will host seeds nine through twelve in the first round.

On The Bubble

Indiana might be the hottest team in college football. No one expected the Hoosiers to be perfect this deep into the season, but they are and continue to dominate everyone they face. Nebraska is their most recent victim, with a 56-7 win. 

Notre Dame is not out of the CFP yet, as they continue to win after their slip against Northern Illinois. The Fighting Irish beat Georgia Tech 31-13 and could clinch their spot if they continue to win, with games against Navy, Virginia, Florida State, Army, and USC still on the schedule. 

Boise State has a date with UNLV this Saturday for potentially the final spot in the CFP on the line. Both teams have one loss and are two of the country's top Group of Five teams. Heisman contender Ashton Jeanty leads the Broncos and has the potential to create noise in the expanded CFP. 

The Service Academies continue to dominate and increase the odds of claiming the final spot in the College Football Playoff with the Group of Five spot at No. 12. Army and Navy dominated in Week Seven and now sit at 6-0, tied for the top spot in the American Athletic Conference. 

Week Nine in College Football

Week Nine should bring another exciting weekend of football. Navy faces its first ranked opponent of the season with Notre Dame, Indiana faces Washington, Illinois travels to Eugene to play Oregon, and LSU and Texas A&M face off for a potential spot in the SEC Championship Game.