The marquee matchup of Week 2 produced what has to be considered at least a mild surprise as Texas went into Tuscaloosa and posted a convincing win over the Crimson Tide.
The only other teams in the Top 25 to fall were No. 19 Wisconsin (31-22 at Washington State), No. 23 Texas A&M (48-33 at Miami), and No. 24 Tulane (37-20 vs. No. 20 Ole Miss). Elsewhere, Utah, Oregon and North Carolina scrambled their way to victory, and the rest of the top teams took care of business.
How did the Longhorns' statement win (and Alabama's early loss) stir up the top of the bowl game pecking order? What other ramifications were felt up and down the ladder? Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are here to sort it all out, with projections for all 43 matchups, plus their takes on the CFP picture, teams clearly headed in the wrong direction and the game they'd be most excited to see.
All times Eastern
College Football Playoff
CFP National Championship presented by AT&T
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Monday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia vs. Florida State
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Michigan
CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Monday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Michigan vs. Florida State
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Texas
CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Monday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia vs. USC
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Florida State
CFP breakdown
Bonagura: With Alabama out of the equation following its loss to Texas, the assumption that the SEC will get two teams no longer applies. That could change down the road, but for now we're going to operate under the assumption two Power 5 conference champions won't get passed over. The question now, though, is which one will? Let's assume top-ranked Georgia is in. Then there are several logical arguments left. At this point, we can't ignore how strong the Pac-12 looks, so it makes sense to grant its champion a slot. But who will that be? After this week, USC and Washington look the strongest, but we'll go with USC. The Big Ten champion also figures to get in, so Michigan gets the nod there (with Penn State and Ohio State on deck). That leaves Florida State of the ACC or Texas of the Big 12. Each has one of the most impressive wins of the season so far, but I'm more skeptical of Texas being able to see things out to the end than Florida State.
Schlabach: Texas' convincing 34-24 victory at Alabama on Saturday night moves the Longhorns into my top four, bumping out USC for now. The Horns handed the Crimson Tide their first double-digit home loss since Oct. 2, 2004. It was Bama's first double-digit home defeat under coach Nick Saban and his first as a college head coach since 2003. While it looks like the Longhorns are back -- for real this time -- they could face a tricky home game against Wyoming next week. The good news: They play Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 7 and Kansas State at home on Nov. 4. Their Big 12 road games aren't too daunting -- at Baylor, Houston, TCU and Iowa State. Georgia and Michigan remain Nos. 1 and 2 after thumping overmatched Ball State and UNLV, respectively. Florida State is No. 4 after following up its impressive victory over LSU with a 66-13 thrashing of Southern Miss. Yeah, the Seminoles look like they're back, too.
New Year's Six
Friday, Dec. 29
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Tennessee vs. Texas
Schlabach: Notre Dame vs. Penn State
Saturday, Dec. 30
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Alabama vs. Memphis
Schlabach: Alabama vs. USC
Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
4 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Schlabach: Miami vs. Ohio State
Monday, Jan. 1
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
1 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Washington vs. Penn State
Schlabach: Washington vs. Tulane
Favorite matchups
Bonagura: As things sit, I wouldn't write off Washington vs. Penn State as a possible Rose Bowl semifinal, so it wouldn't be a bad consolation if they were to meet in the Fiesta Bowl. Neither has really been tested yet, but Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and Washington's Michael Penix are operating at a high level, and I would expect an explosive, entertaining game between them.
Schlabach: The two projected CFP semifinal games -- Michigan vs. Texas in the Rose Bowl and Florida State vs. Georgia in the Sugar Bowl -- both would be pretty enticing. Four bluebloods with a ton of tradition. The same goes for the Cotton Bowl (Notre Dame vs. Penn State), Peach (Alabama vs. USC) and Orange (Miami vs. Ohio State). Bowl officials and TV executives would be licking their chops for those matchups. Alas, it's only early September and there is a ton of football left to be played.
Bowl season
Saturday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Ohio vs. Liberty
Schlabach: Eastern Michigan vs. Liberty
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central
Schlabach: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Middle Tennessee vs. Texas State
Schlabach: Louisiana Tech vs. Troy
Cure Bowl
Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Troy vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: Appalachian State vs. Florida Atlantic
New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wake Forest vs. Utah State
Schlabach: Florida International vs. San Diego State
LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Colorado vs. Fresno State
Schlabach: UCLA vs. Wyoming
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. UCLA
Schlabach: Texas Tech vs. Washington State
Monday, Dec. 18
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Eastern Michigan vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: UAB vs. South Alabama
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia State vs. San José State
Schlabach: BYU vs. Air Force
Thursday, Dec. 21
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UAB vs. Georgia Southern
Schlabach: East Carolina vs. Georgia Southern
Friday, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Marshall vs. Auburn
Schlabach: Army vs. Auburn
Saturday, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Florida vs. Cal
Schlabach: South Carolina vs. Tulsa
Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Appalachian State vs. San Diego State
Schlabach: Marshall vs. Northern Illinois
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Eastern Michigan vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Miami (Ohio) vs. Wyoming
Schlabach: Ball State vs. Fresno State
68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
7 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: James Madison vs. Western Kentucky
Schlabach: Coastal Carolina vs. Toledo
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Minnesota vs. Utah
Schlabach: Wisconsin vs. Colorado
EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
10:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UTSA vs. Air Force
Schlabach: Kansas vs. Boise State
Tuesday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Michigan State vs. Toledo
Schlabach: Rutgers vs. Ohio
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wake Forest vs. Rice
Schlabach: Cincinnati vs. Cal
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Illinois vs. TCU
Schlabach: Minnesota vs. TCU
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: NC State vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Memphis
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Clemson vs. Mississippi State
Schlabach: Wake Forest vs. Kentucky
Holiday Bowl
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
Bonagura: Duke vs. Oregon
Schlabach: Duke vs. Utah
TaxAct Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UCF vs. Kentucky
Schlabach: UCF vs. Arkansas
Team headed in the wrong direction
Bonagura: Wisconsin, the Big Ten West's only ranked team, went to Pullman and couldn't match Washington State's physicality in a 31-22 loss that will go down as an upset but didn't feel that way as it played out. Given the Badgers don't play Michigan or Penn State, their chances of reaching the Big Ten title game seemed good, but the team that showed up Saturday won't be good enough to avoid other pitfalls along the way.
Schlabach: It's too early to write off the Crimson Tide after their deflating home loss to Texas, but it certainly sounds the alarm bells. I was more concerned about Alabama's offense heading into the season after quarterback Bryce Young departed for the NFL. Would Jalen Milroe make better decisions? Would the offensive line improve? Would some receivers step up? I was stunned at how poorly Alabama's defense played against the Longhorns, who had 454 yards of offense, including 349 passing. Texas went 7-for-18 on third down and 2-for-3 on fourth. I had the Tide losing two games this season; falling to the Longhorns at home wasn't one of them.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Pitt vs. SMU
Schlabach: Georgia Tech vs. SMU
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Rutgers
Schlabach: Pitt vs. Illinois
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Miami vs. Cincinnati
Schlabach: Clemson vs. Kansas State
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Oklahoma vs. Oregon
Friday, Dec. 29
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Syracuse vs. Auburn
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Texas A&M
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Louisville vs. Washington State
Schlabach: NC State vs. Oregon State
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas
Schlabach: Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi State
Saturday, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Maryland vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: Maryland vs. Ole Miss
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m.
Bonagura: Northern Illinois vs. Boise State
Schlabach: Miami (Ohio) vs. San José State
Monday, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wisconsin vs. LSU
Schlabach: North Carolina vs. LSU
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Iowa vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Tennessee