With Week 5 in the books, five major outlets have released updated College Football Playoff projections, offering a snapshot of the field as races tighten across Power 4 conferences. Per CBS Sports, a cloudy CFP picture in the SEC may—or may not—clear up in the next two weeks, while Big Ten hopefuls face likely make-or-break scenarios in Week 6. ESPN has spotlighted select teams and questions around others as the playoff picture takes shape, while also identifying which teams experts think are most likely to make the field.
One notable development: Alabama has surged in bowl projections, per Yahoo Sports, which reported a shuffling of the USA TODAY Sports college football bowl projections with new teams entering the CFP field this week. The movement reflects the volatile nature of the season at this stage, with several conferences still sorting out their contenders heading into the final weeks before the selection committee's rankings begin.