2025 College Football Playoff Predictions: ESPN Unveils 12-Team Bracket and Bowl Slate After Week 1

After an exciting Week 1 in college football, many fans are buzzing about the surprises. Unranked Florida State stunned No. 8 Alabama with a 31-17 victory. This shocker was part of a larger shake-up that led ESPN to revise its 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) projections.

Alongside Florida State’s win, teams like No. 1 Texas, No. 4 Clemson, and No. 6 Notre Dame also faced unexpected defeats. ESPN analysts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach quickly adjusted their playoff predictions after this dramatic week.

This year’s CFP format is different. There are no automatic byes for conference champions. Instead, the top four teams get the first-round byes. The highest-ranked teams from 5 to 8 will host home games during the first round before advancing to the quarterfinals.

Predictions and Matchups

Here’s a look at their updated playoff predictions:

• Bonagura: No. 12 Tulane vs. No. 5 Oregon
• Schlabach: No. 12 Tulane vs. No. 5 Miami

Both analysts expect Tulane to emerge as the top Group of Five champion, especially after Boise State’s disappointing opening loss to South Florida. Bonagura believes Oregon will finish as the Big Ten’s third-best team behind Ohio State and Penn State, while Schlabach sees Miami taking the fifth seed as the ACC champions after defeating Notre Dame.

Notable Predictions

• In the first round:
  • Bonagura: No. 11 Arizona State vs. No. 6 Miami
  • Schlabach: No. 11 Utah vs. No. 6 Oregon

Bonagura anticipates Arizona State will stay in the playoffs despite a loss in the Big 12 title game. Schlabach thinks Utah will win that conference championship.

Quarterfinal Showdowns

Heading into the quarterfinals:

• Bonagura suggests:

  • No. 7 Texas vs. No. 2 Penn State
  • No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU

• Schlabach forecasts:

  • No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 3 Penn State
  • No. 10 Florida State vs. No. 7 Clemson

Here, Bonagura sees the Longhorns advancing after defeating Clemson, while Schlabach predicts Oregon will face Penn State after their first-round win.

Championship Predictions

For the national championship game, both analysts agree on Ohio State securing a strong position as the defending champions.

• Bonagura: No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 1 Ohio State
• Schlabach: No. 2 LSU vs. No. 1 Ohio State

Statistically speaking, expanding the playoff format to 12 teams has created more excitement among fans and players alike. A recent survey revealed that over 70% of college football fans support this change, believing it increases competition and engagement throughout the season.

Conclusion

As college football unfolds, these early predictions offer a glimpse of what’s to come. The surprises from Week 1 keep fans on the edge of their seats, reminding everyone that anything can happen on the field.

For more details, you can check out ESPN’s full playoff predictions here.

Source link