The Road to Las Vegas: Review-Journal’s Week 3 CFP projections

Editor’s note: Each Sunday the Las Vegas Review-Journal will select the four teams most likely to be in the CFP semifinals ahead of the title game in Las Vegas on Jan. 25.

There is no way a team can play its way into a playoff berth, much less a top four seed, in September.

It is, however, quite possible to essentially get eliminated from contention.

That’s what happened in College Station, Texas, on Saturday as No. 9 Texas A&M took a stunning 31-21 loss to Kentucky as a 17-point favorite.

The Aggies were doomed from the start as one of their best athletes, Terry Bussey, suffered a right leg injury as he fumbled the ball inside his own 15-yard line on the opening kickoff return. The fumble was overturned on replay, but the damage was done as Bussey was unable to return and the Texas A&M offense struggled to make plays downfield.

One loss doesn’t end a season, but the Aggies play five of their next eight games against Top 20 teams and running the table seems unlikely.

While losses aren’t devastating in the current format, dropping home games to unranked opponents can be crippling.

Most of the rest of the Top 25 teams had relatively easy games this week outside of the showdown in Oxford, Mississippi.

Here are this week’s Review-Journal CFP Las Vegas Top Four projections:

1. Notre Dame

The first half provided some cause for concern as the Irish took a 17-10 lead into the break against Michigan State. But the Irish fought through some adversity and continued on their path to the playoff. The schedule remains Notre Dame’s best friend. It’s one they should be able to navigate even on nights like Saturday when it’s not at its best. A team like Texas, conversely, remains on the outside looking in because of so many battles to come.

2. Georgia

Gunner Stockton needed to throw just 13 times as the Bulldogs opened up a 31-3 lead and cruised to a 45-17 road victory at Arkansas on Saturday. The senior quarterback added 97 yards on the ground to lead a Georgia rushing attack that racked up 254 yards. It’s on defense where this team is going to be a threat to make a run to Allegiant Stadium, however. The Bulldogs held the Razorbacks to just 17 rushing yards. They now return home for a pair of games before heading to Alabama on Oct. 10 for a game that could have a big impact on these rankings.

3. Miami

The Hurricanes haven’t necessarily faced a stiff challenge and probably won’t for several weeks, but they have proven they can go on the road and win conference games. They have done so twice already, including Friday’s 33-20 victory over Wake Forest. The only thing keeping Darian Mensah from getting even more Heisman hype is the spectacular play of his superstar wide receiver, Malachi Toney.

4. Indiana (3-0)

It was another dominant performance for the Hoosiers’ defense, which recorded its second consecutive shutout. Indiana has allowed 243 total yards in the last two games combined. Saturday’s victim was Western Kentucky, which went 4-for-15 on third down in a 38-0 loss. Indiana’s first real test will come on Oct. 17 against Ohio State, but the Hoosiers do start Big Ten play against Northwestern next week.