ESPN Updates College Football Playoff Top 12 Projection After Week 8

ESPN released its latest College Football Playoff projections following Week 8, with LSU coming in at No. 12 after Saturday's 38-17 win over Auburn.

The Tigers (6-2) have won two straight games and now enter a bye week before facing Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee in three consecutive weeks.

ESPN explained why LSU could land at No. 12, what could hold the Tigers back, and what lies ahead:

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12. LSU Tigers (6-2)

Why they could be here: The Tigers are still ranked behind the two teams they lost to (Ole Miss and Kentucky), but they've outscored their past two SEC opponents by a combined 69-17. The Tigers might have been written off more in the court of public opinion than in the committee meeting room, which would take into account the intangibles involved in the emotional loss at Ole Miss during Kiffin's return to Oxford. With the win at Auburn on Saturday, LSU displayed what it's capable of when everything comes together and quarterback Sam Leavitt is efficient and limits turnovers. That cohesiveness was lacking earlier in the season.

Why they could be lower: LSU's 51-10 drubbing of Clemson in the season opener has been devalued, and it took another hit Saturday, when the Tigers lost to Virginia Tech and dropped to 4-3. The 63-14 dismantling of McNeese on Oct. 3, along with a 45-14 win against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 12, pads the stats but won't generate much interest in the committee room. Saturday's win at Auburn was LSU's first road victory of the season.

Need to know: LSU has the second-toughest remaining schedule in the country, according to ESPN Analytics, which is exactly what it needs to impress the selection committee. LSU has a bye week to prepare for its season-defining stretch against three straight ranked opponents, starting Nov. 7 against Alabama followed by Nov. 14 vs. Texas and Nov. 21 at Tennessee. ESPN's FPI gives LSU at least a 50% chance to win each of its remaining games. If the playoff were today, LSU would get bumped out of the bracket for the highest-ranked Group of 6 team, which is currently projected to be Boise State.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 7 vs. Alabama. The Tide also have a bye to prepare, and both teams will be looking to avoid a devastating third loss.

Based on the rankings above, the seeding would be:

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

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

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

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