ESPN Updates College Football Playoff Projection Following Week 9

ESPN's Heather Dinich released her updated College Football Playoff Top 12 projection after Week 9, with LSU at No. 12.

However, LSU would be left out of the actual 12-team playoff bracket, as the highest-ranked Group of Six conference champion receives an automatic bid.

The Tigers (6-2) have beaten Mississippi State and Auburn in their last two games and now face a challenging November schedule, starting with Alabama on Saturday.

The first official College Football Playoff rankings will be released Tuesday, November 3, at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

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12. LSU Tigers (6-2)

Why they could be here: The Tigers had a bye week, but they moved into the bubble spot after their Week 8 win against Auburn. The selection committee would likely have LSU behind the two teams it lost to -- Ole Miss and Kentucky -- but the Tigers have outscored their past two SEC opponents by a combined 69-17. The committee might not penalize the Tigers too much for the losses, considering Ole Miss and Kentucky could be in the top 12 on Tuesday night. The loss to Kentucky was on the road by one point in overtime, and the loss at Ole Miss was under unusually emotional circumstances with coach Lane Kiffin's first return to Oxford. Those factors are likely to come up in the conversation.

Why they could be lower: LSU is still searching for its first true statement win, and though it has ample opportunities looming, the selection committee doesn't look ahead. LSU's win at Auburn was its first road win of the season.

Need to know: LSU has the toughest remaining schedule in the country, according to ESPN Analytics. The Tigers had a well-timed bye week to prepare for three straight games against ranked opponents -- Alabama, Texas and Tennessee.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 7 vs. Alabama. ESPN's FPI gives LSU a 55% chance to win.

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Bracket

First-round byes:
No. 1 Miami (ACC champ)
No. 2 Georgia (SEC champ)
No. 3 BYU (Big 12 champ)
No. 4 Notre Dame

First-round games:
No. 12 Boise State (highest Group of 6) at No. 5 Utah
No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 6 Indiana (Big Ten champ)
No. 10 Ohio State at No. 7 UCLA
No. 9 Texas at No. 8 Kentucky

Quarterfinal games:
No. 12 Boise State/No. 5 Utah winner vs. No. 4 Notre Dame
No. 11 Ole Miss/No. 6 Indiana winner vs. No. 3 BYU
No. 10 Ohio State/No. 7 UCLA winner vs. No. 2 Georgia
No. 9 Texas/No. 8 Kentucky winner vs. No. 1 Miami