College Football Playoff and Bowl Projections After Week 7: Title Game Rematch on Tap

BYU vaults to the No. 1 playoff seed, while the bowl games see Bill Belichick’s North Carolina in the Mayo Bowl and North Dakota State’s FBS postseason debut.

Miami running back Javian Mallory carries the ball against Florida State. The Hurricanes are projected to be national title game participants again this season. | Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

That’s reflected in the Sports Illustrated latest bowl projections going into Week 8, which sees some fascinating CFP matchups from the first round (Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire gets his much-anticipated game against Notre Dame) all the way through to a rematch of last year’s title game in Las Vegas. The rest of the postseason is full of equally fun games, from the possibility of Bill Belichick getting drenched in mayo against Penn State, another West Coast meeting between USC and Texas (in Vegas), an old Big Eight reunion in the Liberty Bowl and a heck of a FBS caper for North Dakota State against a fellow Group of 6 power in the desert.

No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 UCLA

No. 11 Iowa at No. 6 Mississippi

No. 10 Kentucky at No. 7 Ohio State

No. 9 Texas Tech at No. 8 Notre Dame

Fiesta Bowl: No. 1 BYU vs. No. 8 Notre Dame

Peach Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Ohio State

Rose Bowl: No. 3 Indiana vs. No. 6 Mississippi

Cotton Bowl: No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 UCLA

Orange Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 3 Indiana

Sugar Bowl: No. 8 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Miami

At Las Vegas: No. 3 Indiana vs. No. 4 Miami

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