Miami is aiming for its first national title since 2001. It leads the nation in ESPN's strength of record metric, and the Allstate Playoff Predictor gives it a 98.3% chance of reaching the playoff and an 18.7% chance of winning the title. Its pass defense is the weak spot: it gives up 252 yards per game through the air, No. 122 nationally. Miami also plays at Notre Dame in November. Notre Dame is No. 4 in the AP poll, though Sports Illustrated suggested the committee may place it two or three spots lower. AP noted that a second loss could hurt Notre Dame's standing badly.

Utah is the harder team to place. ABC7 lists Miami, Utah and BYU as the undefeated teams, while AP names Utah and UCLA as the unbeaten teams the committee has to slot alongside Miami. Sources also disagree on BYU's record: Bleacher Report has the Cougars at 6-1. Utah is 8-0, but ABC7 ranks its schedule No. 83 and its offensive and defensive efficiency poorly. Sports Illustrated said Utah lacks marquee wins and may be ranked on recent performance. It added that Utah's ranking affects the Big 12's chance at multiple bids. Utah hosts BYU on Saturday.

Georgia's season is described differently depending on the source. AP says the Bulldogs lost to unranked Auburn and by 30 points to Ole Miss last weekend. Bleacher Report lists Georgia at 7-1 and treats Georgia against Ole Miss as an upcoming Week 10 game, as does ABC7. Sports Illustrated expects Georgia to be the highest-ranked SEC team, with the order behind it uncertain. The SEC has 10 teams in the AP Top 25 and none undefeated. Alabama lost to Tennessee, Tennessee lost to Texas, and Texas lost to Florida. Alabama, now 6-2, visits 6-2 LSU at Tiger Stadium, and the loser takes a third conference defeat with three games left.

Ohio State is No. 11 in the AP poll with two losses, including one to USC, and is without injured quarterback Julian Sayin. Luke Fahey is starting in his place, with Oregon next on the schedule. ABC7 ranks the Buckeyes' schedule No. 18 and their strength of record No. 9. Indiana, which won last season's national title under coach Curt Cignetti, is No. 6 in the AP poll and still in the Big Ten race.

In the Group of Six, Boise State (No. 20) and New Mexico (No. 22) are the only teams in the AP Top 25. ABC7 gives Boise State a 61.9% playoff chance and projects it as the highest Group of Six seed. The 12-team format, now in its third season, has five automatic bids and seven at-large bids. The automatic bids go to the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions and the highest-ranked Group of Six team. The top four seeds get first-round byes, and Notre Dame gets an automatic bid if it is ranked in the top 12 on Selection Sunday.

The 13-member committee plans six weekly rankings, and the bracket is revealed Sunday, December 6. First-round games are on campuses December 18-19, the quarterfinals are December 30 and January 1, and the semifinals are January 14-15. AP, which says ESPN pays about $1.3 billion to televise the playoff, describes a handshake agreement to expand to 24 teams next season. NBC Boston reports it as a possible expansion. The national championship game is Monday, January 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.