Projecting the CFP top 12 after Week 3: SEC taking over the top — SkimNews
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- Texas Longhorns (3-0) are projected at #1, with the committee potentially viewing their Week 2 win against Ohio State as the best win in the country if the Buckeyes win the Big Ten
- Ole Miss Rebels (3-0) surged to #2 after their statement win against LSU, giving them two wins against ranked opponents (Louisville and LSU) — a claim no other team in the country can currently make
- Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1) sit at #3 as the highest-ranked one-loss team, having lost only to the projected #1; receiver Jeremiah Smith broke the school's career receiving yardage record on Saturday
- Georgia Bulldogs (3-0) are #4 despite playing one of the worst schedules in the country to this point, with ESPN's FPI giving them a 53.6% chance in their toughest remaining game at Alabama
- Miami Hurricanes (3-0) are #5 with QB Darian Mensah setting an ACC record for consecutive completions (first 24 passes) against Wake Forest, though the team is monitoring injuries to receiver Malachi Toney and RB Mark Fletcher Jr.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-0) are #6 after going 2-0 against the Big Ten, with their Nov. 7 matchup against Miami in South Bend flagged as one of the most impactful CFP games of the season
- Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0) are #7, with their Week 2 win at Kentucky looking stronger after the Wildcats upset Texas A&M; QB Keelon Russell completed 76.7% of his passes with three touchdowns against Florida State
- LSU dropped less than Texas A&M after their respective losses, while Miami and Notre Dame remain in a tight race and BYU and Texas Tech carry the Big 12 banner — all looking up at the SEC
Why it matters: Ole Miss now has two wins against ranked opponents — a resume claim no other team can make — putting the Rebels in position to challenge Texas for the top seed if they keep winning. The SEC's lock on three of the top four spots directly threatens the Big Ten's streak of three straight national titles, with Texas vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 24 serving as the next major selection committee checkpoint.
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