The Nebraska football team entered Week 4 looking like they might be a darkhorse candidate for the college football playoffs. Of course, in order to really be a contender, they needed to secure a 7-0 record heading to Ohio State. That is no longer something that can happen after their overtime loss to Illinois.
There is of course a chance that the Huskers could get back into the race. In fact, if they head to Columbus 6-1, there will be talk about a postseason beyond a bowl game. But they'll need to smack down Purdue, at Purdue before that happens.
For now, the Nebraska football team is going to have to watch as many as four Big Ten teams go to the playoffs instead. My latest projections haven't changed much as the college football playoffs didn't get shaken up as much as the Top 25 did.
The biggest change this week is that it looks like there isn't going to be a G5 team in the field. That was going to be Northern Illinois, but they suffered an upset loss to Buffalo. Boise State is the only G5 team currently ranked and sitting at No. 25 this late in the season doesn't help their chances.
2024 Week 4 12-team College Football Playoffs prediction
Rank | Team | Why are they here | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Texas | SEC Champions | 1 |
2 | Ohio State | Big Ten Champions | 2 |
3 | Miami | ACC Champions | 4 |
4 | Utah | Big 12 Champions | 3 |
5 | Georgia | At Large | 1 |
6 | Ole Miss | At Large | NR |
7 | Alabama | At Large | 7 |
8 | Missouri | At Large | 8 |
9 | Penn State | At Large | 9 |
10 | Michigan | At Large | NR |
11 | Tennessee | At Large | 11 |
12 | USC | At Large | 10 |
While Nebraska has to sit out for now, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and USC are representing the Big Ten. Michigan is the new team in this group after their home win over USC.
Despite the loss at the big house, the Trojans still have a very good chance of making the college football playoffs.