College Football Playoff rankings 2022: Projected Week 11 Top 25 after LSU upsets Alabama, Georgia routs Tennessee, Clemson upset

Projected College Football Playoff rankings after Week 10: No. 12-11

12. UCLA Bruins

There are two certainties about UCLA. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a special player leading an explosive and terrific offense and that this defense is going to cost the Bruins another game at some point this season. Going on the road to Tempe for some Pac-12 After Dark, Chip Kelly had his team basically scoring at will against a lackluster Arizona State team but his defense also gave up 36 points to a team that has struggled to score at times this season.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t feel right to move the Bruins from the No. 12 spot following such a mediocre performance. But this is still a team that feels like it would be much more hot-and-cold if it weren’t in the Pac-12. This team can beat anyone on any given Saturday because of the offense but they can also get in danger against any opponent as well.

11. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Playoff dreams of Alabama are dead. Not only was their loss to Tennessee made to look worse with the Vols taking the loss to Georgia on Saturday, but now the Crimson Tide went and lost on the road at LSU. They were wholly competitive as Bryce Young drove down in the two-minute drill to force overtime, but a gutsy two-point conversion in overtime spelled the end for Nick Saban’s team at the hands of the Tigers.

This has not looked like a traditional Alabama team for much of the season and LSU put that on display. The Crimson Tide defense couldn’t find consistent stops, the offense was not as explosive as often as they would like, and the offensive line struggled to hold up in front of Young. Now they’re a two-loss team not in control of their own destiny in the SEC. It would take a legitimate miracle now for Bama to be in the CFP.