College Football Playoff Picture after Week 5: Arch Manning's stellar showing keeps Texas on top
The 2024 College Football season is heating up, and the playoff picture is beginning to take shape with the expanded 12-team format after a hectic Week 5 slate.
This year will mark the first season with the new CFP format, and many teams are starting to make their case for the selection committee entering Week 6 of the season.
Here is an in-depth look at the College Football Playoff picture and our CFP rankings entering Week 6.
12-Team Picks in the College Football Playoff Picture Entering Week 6
1. Texas Longhorns (5-0)
The Texas Longhorns are at the top of the mountain entering Week 6, thanks to redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning holding down the fort in the absence of Quinn Ewers. Texas has looked dominant in its 5-0 start to the season and has a Top-10 win over the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2.
With Ewers set to return in Week 7 after the bye week, Texas will have two major tests when it takes on the No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners and the No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs in back-to-back weeks.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0)
The Alabama Crimson Tide have an equally strong case to be ranked No. 1 in our CFP rankings, so we'll refer to them as 1B after their massive win over the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs at home.
Kalen DeBoer has continued Alabama's legacy as Georgia's kryptonite and has his team racking up wins like Nick Saban is still at the helm. Alabama will have another big test in three weeks when it travels to Knoxville to take on the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0)
While they haven't yet faced off the competition of the two schools ahead of them, the Ohio State Buckeyes have looked the part in their 4-0 start, cruising to a 38-7 win over Michigan State.
The Buckeyes have seen immediate impacts from their highly-touted transfers in Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins and Caleb Downs. Ohio State's offense averages 48.8 points and 534.8 yards per game. Their defense looks even better than last year's group, allowing just 6.8 points per game, the lowest mark in the country.
4. Tennessee Volunteers (4-0)
The Tennessee Volunteers are firing on all cylinders to start the season, recording a perfect 4-0 record through their first four games. The Vols passed their first test of the season in Week 5, topping the No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners in Norman.
Entering SEC play, Tennessee will host No. 1 Alabama in Week 8 in a game that will show the legitimacy of the Volunteers' chances at a national championship. Tennessee is set to travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in Week 6.
5. Miami Hurricanes (5-0)
This pick could seem high for a squad that walked through their first four opponents before being taken the distance by a lowly Virginia Tech team in a 38-34 win.
Still, though, Miami's offense is averaging 585.6 yards per game, scoring 38-plus points in every game of the season thus far with Heisman hopeful Cam Ward at the helm. In a wide-open ACC, Miami should run the table and finish the regular season unscathed.
6. Georgia Bulldogs (3-1)
With their first loss of the season, the Georgia Bulldogs are looking to rebound after back-to-back disappointing weeks in Week 4 and Week 5. Georgia dominantly opened the season, topping the Clemson Tigers 34-3 but struggled against the Kentucky Wildcats in Week 4, just getting by a familiar SEC foe 13-12 at home.
With three Top 25 matchups left on the schedule versus No. 2 Texas, No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 4 Tennesee, Georgia will have the chance to re-establish the dominance they've displayed over the last several years as the playoffs approach.
7. Oregon Ducks (4-0)
The Oregon Ducks were surrounded with questions after back-to-back close calls to start the season, beating Idaho State by just 10 points and squeaking by Boise State 37-34.
Since that, Oregon has looked dominant in its last two games, outscoring Oregon State and UCLA in Weeks 4 and 5. The Ducks have two big tests remaining on their schedule, hosting No. 3 Ohio State on October 12 and traveling to No. 10 Michigan on November 2.
8. Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0)
The Penn State Nittany Lions have spent the last decade or so in the shadows of teams like Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten but are looking to write a new narrative in 2024. Through four games, Penn State is 4-0, coming off their first Top 25 win of the season, topping the No.19 Illinois Fighting Illini 21-7 in Week 5.
With two ranked opponents left on its schedule in No. 11 USC and No. 3 Ohio State, Penn State should finish the regular season as a one-loss team with an enticing playoff argument.
9. Missouri Tigers (4-0)
One of the dark-horse contenders in the SEC, the Missouri Tigers have picked up where they left off in 2023 after an upset win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl last season. The Tigers have started their season off with a 4-0 record and a Top 25 win over No. 24 Boston College.
Missouri will have another test in No. 25 Texas A&M in Week 6 and will have to see the likes of No. 1 Alabama and No. 19 Oklahoma down the stretch of the season.
10. Clemson Tigers (3-1)
After a poor season opener, it's easy to question this pick. Fortunately for us, it's also easy to answer. The Clemson Tigers have exploded since their Week 1 loss versus Georgia, outscoring opponents 165-69 over the last three weeks.
The Tigers are one of the hottest teams in the country entering Week 6 and will likely run the table down the stretch of the season, setting up a possible Miami-Clemson ACC Championship matchup. With another Top 25 matchup versus No. 22 Louisville on November 2, the Tigers are far from out of the playoff race.
11. BYU Cougars (4-0)
The BYU Cougars have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 college football season, dominating No. 13 Kansas State in Week 4 38-9 before topping Baylor on the road in a 34-28 win.
In a wide-open Big 12, the Cougars are emerging as contenders in just their second season in the conference. With one more Top 25 matchup on the schedule, the Cougars could finish the season as an undefeated Big 12 champion with two Top 25 wins.
12. Indiana Hoosiers (5-0)
Another major surprise entering Week 6, the Indiana Hoosiers have started their season off with a 5-0 record and have looked dominant in their two Big Ten matchups. The Hoosiers are coming off a Week 5 win over the Maryland Terrapins, winning 42-28 at home.
Versus UCLA in Week 3, Indiana dominated in the 42-13 win. With two Top 25 matchups versus Michigan and Ohio State, the Hoosiers will have plenty of opportunities to establish their playoff case.