CBS Sports Drops Shocking 2025 Playoff Picks – And the BYES Will Stun You

CBS Sports Drops Shocking 2025 Playoff Picks – And the BYES Will Stun You originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Just nine short Saturdays stand between us and the kickoff of the 2025 college football season, which means one thing: prediction season is in full swing! And CBS Sports just threw a grenade into the mix, updating their crystal ball visions for the expanded College Football Playoff and the entire bowl slate.

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Remember last year? Twelve teams, four conference champs getting a bye. Forget about it! The CFP is once again shifting gears, moving to a straight-seeding model. That means the four highest-ranked teams, regardless of conference titles, will snag those coveted first-round byes. The top five conference champions still earn their golden tickets to the dance, but the road to the national championship just got a whole lot more interesting for the top dogs.

So, who’s in? Who’s out? And who’s getting a pass to the quarterfinals? Let’s dive into CBS Sports’ seismic projections that have the college football world buzzing!

The Playoff Picture: First Round Fireworks!

Game 1: No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 12 Navy

Get ready for a classic! CBS Sports is calling for a thrilling first-round clash between No. 5 seed Notre Dame and No. 12 seed Navy. This isn’t just a playoff game; it’s a rekindling of one of college football’s most storied rivalries, a rematch of their November 8th regular-season showdown. Notre Dame, fresh off a national championship appearance last year (despite quarterback questions!), will look to prove their mettle, while a surging Navy, who stunned Army on their way to a 10-3 season, will be ready to upset the apple cart.

Game 2: No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 10 Georgia

Talk about a family feud! In a matchup that will have every college football fan glued to their screens, No. 7 Oregon is projected to host No. 10 Georgia. This isn’t just a battle for a quarterfinal spot; it’s Dan Lanning going head-to-head with his former mentor, Kirby Smart, in a seismic showdown at Autzen Stadium. Lanning led the Ducks to a Big Ten title in their inaugural season, while Smart aims to keep Georgia atop the SEC after their championship run last year. Who will reign supreme when the apprentice faces the master?

Game 3: No. 8 LSU vs. No. 9 Miami

Bounce-back season or bust? CBS Sports has two programs with sky-high expectations, No. 8 LSU and No. 9 Miami, squaring off in a must-watch first-round contest. LSU returns their dynamic quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, who lit up scoreboards last year. Meanwhile, Miami made a huge splash in the transfer portal, landing Carson Beck to fill the shoes of Cam Ward. After a disappointing 10-3 finish last season, can the Hurricanes live up to the hype? And can Nussmeier elevate his NFL Draft stock with a deep playoff run for the Tigers?

Game 4: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Iowa State

The Crimson Tide is back! After a heartbreaking playoff miss last year, No. 6 Alabama is projected to return to the bracket, facing off against a gritty No. 11 Iowa State squad that surged late last season. The Cyclones boast returning quarterback Rocco Becht, a signal-caller who could lead them on another surprising Big 12 run. For Alabama, the quarterback battle rages on, with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb recently hinting that Ty Simpson is in the driver’s seat. Can the Tide reload and make a statement in the expanded playoff?

The Elite Eight: Who Gets the Bye?

Under the new straight-seeding model, the top four teams earn that crucial first-round bye. According to CBS Sports, these are the programs getting a much-needed week off before their quarterfinal showdowns:

CFP Quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl: Clemson

Dabo Swinney’s Tigers are back on top! CBS Sports projects Clemson to secure a vital first-round bye. With a breakout year under his belt and a national championship firmly in his sights, quarterback Cade Klubnik leads an offense with an astounding 80% returning production, according to ESPN. Get ready for a huge year for the Tigers!

CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl: Texas

A new era dawns in Austin! Texas is projected to earn a bye as they embark on their highly anticipated SEC journey. The keys to Steve Sarkisian’s offense are officially in the hands of Arch Manning. After seeing some action as a backup last year and leading the Longhorns to the CFP semifinals, Manning is poised to take this new-look Texas team to the next level.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl: Ohio State

The reigning national champions are poised for a repeat! Despite a record-setting NFL Draft exodus, Ohio State still boasts core pieces like safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. While a quarterback battle between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz brews, the Buckeyes are buzzing, ready to kick off their quest for back-to-back titles against Texas in a massive season opener.

CFP Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl: Penn State

Expectations are through the roof in Happy Valley! Penn State is projected to grab a first-round bye, thanks to one of the top returning cores in the Big Ten. Quarterback Drew Allar is back, alongside a formidable running back duo in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. With 65% of their production returning, the Nittany Lions are primed for a huge 2025 season.

Beyond the Playoff: The Full Bowl Game Breakdown

The fun doesn’t stop with the CFP! CBS Sports also released its updated projections for the entire slate of bowl games. While dates and times are still to be determined, here’s a glimpse at the matchups that could be shaping up:

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• Hawaii Bowl: Air Force vs. Liberty

• Boca Raton Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Western Michigan

• Cure Bowl: James Madison vs. Boise State

• Arizona Bowl: San Jose State vs. Northern Illinois

• Birmingham Bowl: Arkansas vs. UCF

• Bahamas Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Buffalo

• Pinstripe Bowl: NC State vs. Wisconsin

• Liberty Bowl: Kansas vs. Missouri

• Los Angeles Bowl: Utah vs. UCLA

• 68 Ventures Bowl: Fresno State vs. Louisiana

• New Mexico Bowl: UNLV vs. Texas State

• Salute to Veterans Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Arkansas State

• Military Bowl: North Carolina vs. Tulane

• GameAbove Sports Bowl: Minnesota vs. Ohio

• Independence Bowl: BYU vs. Oregon State

• New Orleans Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Marshall

• Idaho Potato Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Colorado State

• Guaranteed Rate Bowl: TCU vs. Iowa

• Fenway Bowl: Duke vs. ECU

• Myrtle Beach Bowl: USF vs. Coastal Carolina

• Armed Forces Bowl: Army vs. Toledo

• Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Arizona State

• Frisco Bowl: UTSA vs. Sam Houston

• First Responder Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia

• Gasparilla Bowl: Auburn vs. Memphis

• Texas Bowl: Baylor vs. Texas A&M

• Music City Bowl: Illinois vs. Ole Miss

• Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Florida State vs. Tennessee

• Holiday Bowl: Pitt vs. Washington

• Alamo Bowl: Kansas State vs. USC

• Pop-Tarts Bowl: SMU vs. Texas Tech

• ReliaQuest Bowl: Indiana vs. South Carolina

• Gator Bowl: Louisville vs. Oklahoma

• Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida

• Sun Bowl: Syracuse vs. Washington State

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.