Bleacherreport
CFB Playoff Picture 2024-25: Updated Standings and Bracket Predictions After Week 4
C.Brown31 min ago
- Brandon Sloter/ The Michigan Wolverines and Utah Utes shook up the College Football Playoff conversation with statement wins on Saturday afternoon. Michigan reclaimed its spot in the mix for the Big Ten title with a home win over the USC Trojans. Utah went into Stillwater and asserted itself among the Big 12's elite programs with a victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The race for the Group of Five berth was shaken up as well, as the Northern Illinois Huskies and Memphis Tigers were both upset. Northern Illinois and Memphis gained marquee wins earlier in September, but they wasted away
- Brandon Sloter/ Michigan brought itself right back into the Big Ten title conversation with its last-minute win over USC. The Wolverines went back to their trademark rushing attack to wear down the Trojans. Kalel Mullings ran for 159 of the team's 290 rushing yards. New starting quarterback Alex Orji only threw for 32 yards, and while he will have to throw more in the coming weeks, the low yardage total fit in with Saturday's game plan. The Wolverines also put USC quarterback Miller Moss under pressure for most of the second half to remain within one possession. Michigan now has a Top 25 win to neutralize its home loss to the Texas Longhorns, who might be the best team in the FBS. Sherrone Moore's team will get back into the Top 15 in the new AP poll and it could be back inside the Top 10 by the time its next Top 25 battle with the Illinois Fighting Illini rolls around on October 19.
- Chris Gardner/ Utah and Kansas State are the clear one-two atop the Big 12. The Utes pulled off an impressive victory in Stillwater without starting quarterback Cam Rising. Kyle Whittingham's team turned in an incredible defensive effort to contain star running back Ollie Gordon and a veteran Oklahoma State offense. Utah and K-State do not play in the regular season, so some people may start the countdown clock now to the Big 12 Championship Game. K-State, who is typically stronger at home, gets OK State in Manhattan next week. The Wildcats can create even more separation between them, Utah and the rest of the field with a victory next week. As for OK State, its playoff life may be on the line next week because only one or two teams are likely to make the 12-team playoff out of the Big 12.
- Don Juan Moore/ The race for the Group of Five playoff berth got murkier after Saturday's results. Northern Illinois appeared to be at the front of the MAC when it beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 2, but it failed to win its conference opener against the Buffalo Bulls on Saturday. NIU can still be in the playoff mix if it wins out, but it will need to work much harder to get back into the Top 25 with wins in the MAC. Memphis can find itself in the same situation after losing to the Navy Midshipmen. The Tigers vaulted on to the national radar with a road win over the Florida State Seminoles last week, but they erased their goodwill with the playoff selection committee by losing in Annapoils.
Read the full article:https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10136290-cfb-playoff-picture-2024-25-updated-standings-and-bracket-predictions-after-week-4
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