"Michigan's Rise: Projected College Football Playoff Champions Over Alabama"

Texas is projected to secure a College Football Playoff bid over Alabama due to their head-to-head victory earlier in the season, while Michigan moves to the number one spot. The SEC's streak of sending a team to the playoff may be broken this year. Additionally, there have been changes in bowl projections, with Alabama now slotted for the Orange Bowl and Liberty expected to secure a spot in the Fiesta Bowl as the top Group of Five team.