{"id":281664,"date":"2025-10-06T12:17:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T12:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/281664\/"},"modified":"2025-10-06T12:17:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T12:17:11","slug":"is-texas-done-taking-stock-of-where-2024-college-football-playoff-teams-stand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/281664\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Texas done? Taking stock of where 2024 College Football Playoff teams stand"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you want to share your predictions, analysis or thoughts on Saturday\u2019s Oklahoma-Texas game? Get involved with our coverage at live@theathletic.com.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Texas and Penn State started the season as the top two teams in the Associated Press Top 25.<\/p>\n

It was understandable why. Both reached the College Football Playoff semifinals last season and returned enough high-profile talent to put them in the national title discussion in 2025.<\/p>\n

But after Penn State\u2019s baffling loss to winless UCLA and Texas\u2019 ugly setback to a 1-3 Florida squad, their paths to the CFP look more daunting than ever.<\/p>\n

With the season nearing the midway point, let\u2019s evaluate where the 12 programs that reached the 2024 Playoff stand and whether they\u2019re trending in the right direction to make a return trip this season.<\/p>\n

Ohio State, defending national champion<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> No. 1
Record:<\/strong> 5-0, 2-0 Big Ten<\/p>\n

The Buckeyes dominated Minnesota 42-3 on Saturday, and their defense hasn\u2019t allowed more than nine points in a game this season. Ohio State has two road games against Top-25 foes remaining (Illinois and Michigan) and gets Penn State at home. The Buckeyes should be favored in all their remaining games, and it\u2019s difficult to envision them not making the postseason. The Athletic\u2019s projections give them a 98 percent chance of making the Playoff.<\/a><\/p>\n

Notre Dame, national runner-up<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> No. 16
Record:<\/strong> 3-2<\/p>\n

The Fighting Irish started the season 0-2 with close losses to Miami and Texas A&M. Notre Dame is essentially in a position where it has to win out and finish 10-2 to reach the Playoff. It\u2019s certainly doable, but opportunities for quality wins are slim. There are no ranked teams left on the Fighting Irish\u2019s schedule, though USC has a chance to enter the polls if it can beat Michigan this week. It will be interesting to see what the CFP selection committee does if Notre Dame is 10-2 and contending for an at-large bid with a 10-2 team from a Power-4 conference. It\u2019ll be time to embrace debate in that scenario.<\/a><\/p>\n

Penn State, 2024 semifinalist<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> unranked
Record:<\/strong> 3-2, 0-2 Big Ten<\/p>\n

This was supposed to be the year for the Nittany Lions, who brought back an experienced quarterback, a top-flight running back duo and a solid core on defense. But Penn State has not lived up to expectations<\/a> and has taken a step back. James Franklin won\u2019t be fired<\/a>, but it\u2019s fair to wonder if his program can truly bounce back from such a devastating loss. Franklin has struggled in high-profile games, and there are still dates with No. 1 Ohio State (road) and No. 7 Indiana (home) remaining. Penn State has to win both to have a shot at reaching the Playoff. It\u2019s looking bleak in Happy Valley right now.<\/p>\n

\n

UCLA holds on for its first top-10 win since 2010 \ud83d\udc3b pic.twitter.com\/fwPFcNLkSL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Texas, 2024 semifinalist<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> unranked
Record:<\/strong> 3-2, 0-1 SEC<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019 offensive issues showed up in Week 1 against Ohio State, and a month later, those problems still persist. Arch Manning has struggled mightily<\/a>, the running game has produced average results and the offensive line has not protected Manning well enough. The preseason No. 1 team is 3-2 and still has games against Oklahoma (neutral), Vanderbilt (home), Georgia (road) and Texas A&M (road) remaining. The Longhorns have not played up to their potential this season, and it seems doubtful that they\u2019ll run the table or win the SEC championship, which seems like it\u2019ll be necessary for them to make the Playoff for a third consecutive season.<\/p>\n

Arizona State, 2024 quarterfinalist<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> No. 21
Record:<\/strong> 4-1, 2-0 Big 12<\/p>\n

The Sun Devils have been performing a high-wire act. They\u2019ve needed field goals in the final moments to win their past two games, against Baylor and TCU. We\u2019ll gain better insight about Arizona State\u2019s Playoff chances over the next two weeks with games at Utah and against a top-10 Texas Tech team. The Red Raiders look like the Big 12\u2019s best team. Much like last season, the Sun Devils probably have to win the conference to reach the Playoff.<\/p>\n

Boise State, 2024 quarterfinalist<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> unranked
Record:<\/strong> 3-2, 1-0 MW<\/p>\n

The winner of the American is almost a lock to receive a Playoff spot. So even if Boise State \u2014 which already has two losses \u2014 wins the Mountain West, it will not be returning to the 12-team field.<\/p>\n

Georgia, 2024 quarterfinalist<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> No. 10
Record:<\/strong> 4-1, 2-1 SEC<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs rebounded from their loss to Alabama with a comfortable win against Kentucky on Saturday. Georgia has games against ranked Ole Miss (home) and Georgia Tech (neutral) remaining. Auburn (road), Florida (neutral) and Texas (home) have the potential to make things tricky for a Bulldogs squad that seems more vulnerable than in recent years. A 10-2 finish would be good enough to put Kirby Smart\u2019s team in the mix for a Playoff spot, but the Dawgs will have to sort out some issues to get there.<\/p>\n

Oregon, 2024 quarterfinalist<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> No. 3
Record:<\/strong> 5-0, 2-0 Big Ten<\/p>\n

Oregon hosts Indiana on Saturday in a huge game for both teams. After that, the Ducks might not face another ranked team in the regular season \u2014 though road games at Iowa and Washington and a home date with USC could pose some challenges. The win at Penn State lost a lot of its shine after the Nittany Lions lost at UCLA last weekend, but 10 or 11 victories and a trip to the Big Ten title game should put Oregon in good position for another trip to the Playoff. And with the new seeding rules<\/a>, the Ducks might get a better draw in the bracket after having to face Ohio State in the quarters last season.<\/p>\n

Clemson, 2024 first-round appearance<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> unranked
Record:<\/strong> 2-3, 1-2 ACC<\/p>\n

The Tigers were a preseason top-five team and a trendy pick to win the national championship, but their Playoff hopes died with their 1-3 start to the season.<\/p>\n

Indiana, 2024 first-round appearance<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> No. 7
Record:<\/strong> 5-0, 2-0 Big Ten<\/p>\n

Some probably viewed the Hoosiers as a one-year wonder after their surprise Playoff appearance last season, but a 63-10 victory against a ranked Illinois team last month made quite a statement and demonstrated that Indiana is here to stay. The Hoosiers survived a dreaded trip to Iowa after the big win against the Illini, and have tough road trips to Oregon and Penn State left. Even if they lose both games, 10-2 will still have them in contention for another Playoff bid.<\/p>\n

SMU, 2024 first-round playoff appearance<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> unranked
Record:<\/strong> 3-2, 1-0 ACC<\/p>\n

SMU lost two nonconference losses (to Baylor and TCU), and the defense has been very underwhelming through the first month of the season. The Mustangs\u2019 two toughest games will be at home, vs. Miami and Louisville. They will likely need to win the ACC title to return to the Playoff.<\/p>\n

Tennessee, 2024 first-round playoff appearances<\/p>\n

AP ranking:<\/strong> No. 12
Record:<\/strong> 4-1, 1-1 SEC<\/p>\n

This is supposed to be sort of a reset year in Knoxville, based on what the Vols lost from last season\u2019s Playoff team, but they have played well during their 4-1 start. The schedule will be much harder in the second half of the season, with games against Alabama (road), Oklahoma (home), Florida (road) and Vanderbilt (home). We\u2019ll see if the Volunteers and their defense, which ranks 103rd nationally in scoring, are built for a potential Playoff push.<\/p>\n

(Photo of Arch Manning: Matt Pendleton \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n