ESPN Projects College Football Playoff Top 12 After Week 8

ESPN's Heather Dinich released her updated College Football Playoff Top 12 projection after a wild Week 8 saw several ranked teams lose.

Miami holds the top spot, followed by Ohio State and Georgia. Five SEC teams made the projected Top 12, including LSU at No. 12 after its dominant 38-17 road win over Auburn.

However, LSU would currently be the first team left out of the actual playoff bracket because the automatic bid goes to the highest-ranked Group of 6 team.

Here's ESPN's projected Top 12 following Week 8:

1. Miami (7-0)
2. Ohio State (6-1)
3. Georgia (6-1)
4. BYU (6-1)
5. Notre Dame (6-1)
6. Indiana (7-1)
7. Utah (7-0)
8. UCLA (7-0)
9. Kentucky (7-1)
10. Texas (5-2)
11. Ole Miss (5-2)
12. LSU (6-2)

The SEC leads the way with five teams in the projection, followed by the Big Ten with three, the Big 12 with two, and the ACC with one.

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