Projected College Football Playoff round: Ohio State, not Alabama, is the new No. 1, while Ole Miss drops out

Behind a pair of freshman phenoms and the wizardry of Jalen Milroe was AlabamaCollege football's statement was heard around the world against Georgia rising to top billing in the AP Poll for the first time in two years to shake up Week 6 projected College Football Playoff Rankings.

The Crimson Tide has moved up eight spots to second behind projected Big Ten champion Ohio State, who will be the favorite for the rest of the game after the impressive 4-0 start. Miami's fourth-quarter comeback against Virginia Tech kept the Hurricanes' record untarnished, while BYU's breakaway at Baylor was strengthenedone of the most remarkable surprises of September.

One loss isn't fatal in the extended playoff chase, but hitting a wall against Kentucky is alarming for Ole Miss. The Rebels were left out of this week's projection after previously rising to sixth. There are red flags in Oxford and struggling against a team that came in winless in SEC play is catastrophic for the playoff chances.

Projected CFP Rankings

1. Ohio State

Big Ten Champion

Freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith did his best Odell Beckham impression with a pair of standout receptions for the Buckeyes at Michigan State. This offense is extremely explosive when number 4 puts the football in his paws. Ohio State plays Iowa this weekend before traveling to Oregon for the Big Ten's biggest game yet. This team has a good chance of conquering the table and ending up at number 1.

2. Alabama

SEC champion

Could the Crimson Tide add to their trophy case this season? You won't find a better looking team than what Alabama showed in the first 30 minutes against Georgia. The offensive script was Oscar-worthy and Milroe dissected a defense littered with five-stars. There's a chance we see Georgia-Alabama again this season.

3. Miami

ACC champion

The Hurricanes are ranked one spot in the AP Top 25 due to their narrow win over Virginia Tech and will make the cross-country trek to California in Week 6 to try to stay atop the ACC standings. It could be a tough game considering the Bears are coming off their open week. I'm pretty sure the ACC champion will have an edge over the Big 12 champion, who will suffer more losses.

4. BYU

Big 12 champion

BYU remains in place this week as the projected Big 12 champion in a league that has been anything but predictable this season. Arizona is in great form early after beating Utah on the road and you can go ahead and take Oklahoma State out of the title picture as the Cowboys have suffered back-to-back conference losses. There are a series of teams besides BYU – namely Colorado and Texas Tech – that have also recorded multiple league wins.

5.Texas

Texas played with its food against Mississippi State for a few quarters before finally wearing down the SEC's worst team. Arch Manning produced some breathtaking throws, as he often does, but he will return to the bench when the Longhorns take the field against Oklahoma in two weeks as Quinn Ewers is expected back in the lineup.

6. Tennessee

Vols fans are already seeing a playoff berth appear before their eyes with how Good this team has played four games. If there is a weakness, it is not obvious. Alabama and Georgia are the only nationally ranked opponents left on an advantageous slate.

7.Oregon

Dan Lanning was pleased with his team's effort level and drive after Saturday's win over UCLA. With Ohio State looming in a few weeks, refining potential problem areas for the Ducks was the mission and that test was passed, barring an error in the passing game that led to a touchdown.

8. Georgia

Maybe this is too low for the Bulldogs, but outside of the fourth-quarter explosion through the air in Tuscaloosa, there is some concern offensively this season. Carson Beck struggled under pressure early in the game and Georgia was noticeably upset. With trips to Texas and Ole Miss still to play, along with a showdown against Tennessee, the Bulldogs would be fortunate to finish 10-2.

9. Penn State

Those waiting for a breakout game from the Nittany Lions saw it happen this weekend after Penn State put together a suffocating offensive effort against Illinois. It was a must-win at home for James Franklin, who still has to play against USC and Ohio State in the coming month.

10.Clemson

Don't look now, but the Tigers are rolling. Since he put up three points in the opening game against Georgia, no offense has been as popular in college football as Clemson's offense, engineered by Cade Klubnik. Any concerns about his development in Year 2 as Garrett Riley's quarterback are over.

11. Iowa State

The Cyclones are one of several Big 12 teams at the top of the standings at midseason and are getting it done with tough defensive play. The mantra of this team is perseverance and they are well coached on that side of the football. A big win in Week 2 at Iowa will boost the Cyclones' big chances.

12.James Madison

You're only as good as your last game and the Dukes kept the fire going with a 63-point outburst against Ball State a week after capturing college football attention in North Carolina. James Madison, of all the Group of Five contenders, has the most favorable schedule remaining and we're left with the Dukes as the final seed for the playoff until they are eliminated from the undefeated bracket.

Projected CFP First Round Matchups

• (12) James Madison at (5) Texas – Winner plays (4) BYU
• (11) Iowa State at (6) Tennessee – Winner plays (3) Miami
• (10) Clemson at (7) Oregon – Winner plays (2) Alabama
• (9) Penn State at (8) Georgia – The winner will play (1) Ohio State

Opening round matchups at campus locations, based on this Week 6 projection, show James Madison at Texas, Penn State at Georgia, Clemson at Oregon and Iowa State at Tennessee. That's three first-round home games for the SEC and one for the Big Ten, with those two leagues gobbling up five of the seven possible at-large spots.

The winners of those four games would advance to the College football Playoff Quarterfinals at bowl locations including Fiesta (December 31), Rose (January 1), Sugar (January 1) and Peach (January 1). Among the notable tie-ins in the expanded playoffs, the Sugar Bowl automatically gets the highest-ranked SEC or Big 12 team in the quarters, so second-seeded Alabama would play in New Orleans.

UNLV makes a point

UNLV was nationally ranked for the first time in program history and pulled it off against Fresno State without quarterback Matthew Sluka, who left the team midweek due to NIL disagreements. The team rallied around backup signal caller Hajj-Malik Williams and the Rebels responded with a resounding statement. UNLV, Boise State and James Madison are three teams to watch in the Group of Five championship picture.

Notre Dame returns to its position

Facing a playoff elimination game of sorts against nationally ranked Louisville, the Fighting Irish's came up with enough stops in the second half to keep postseason hopes alive. That's a quality win for Notre Dame, whose magic number is 11 — the total number of wins we consider necessary to clinch one of the big playoff spots without worthy. The Fighting Irish will want Louisville to take the lead the rest of the way and they need USC, which is scheduled to play at the end of the season, as a top-ranked prospect.

The gigantic scent of Lane Kiffin

Happy trails, rebels. Kiffin's team is on the outside looking in after the unexpected loss to the Wildcats. Defined by faulty execution down the stretch and questionable offensive play against an opponent that won the physicality battle at the line of scrimmage, Ole Miss has a lot of work to do the rest of the way to get back into the mix. The next three games in South Carolina, at LSU and Oklahoma are season-defining.