It’s time to put the rankings away, and project some bowl destinations.

Around 12:15 p.m. ET on Sunday, we will know who the four lucky teams are for the 2023 College Football Playoff. While this season’s nearly eight-now-six-team scramble for four spots went late into Saturday night, figuring out the four will not be without controversy.

Does Georgia with a loss to Alabama in the SEC title game still get a shot at the playoff?

Do Alabama AND Texas both get in? Does head-to-head keep SEC champion Alabama out of the playoffs following their Week 2 loss to Texas? Does the CFP committee completely ignore what happened back in September and award Alabama spot over Texas?

Everything that has happened between Week 1 and Sunday at noon ET will be looked over, investigated, refreshed down to the nearest decimal point if needed.

Only in college football does the mystery of figuring out who the four teams in the CFP give off flashbacks to the 1960 Presidential Election. If you were even alive for that moment.

With that bit of history, let’s do the one and final AL.com CFP/NY6 Projections

Cotton Bowl—Dec. 29, 2023 – Arlington, TX: Missouri vs. Ohio State

So, Ohio State is pretty much locked into this at-large spot because other bowl slots to be picked would most likely pass over the Buckeyes. Mostly due to Ohio State falling short in their season finale, but also how other bowl selections broke (more on that later). As for their opponent, there’s been some movement for Ole Miss to snatch one of the at-large bids that are available. The problem for Ole Miss their two losses

Peach Bowl – Dec. 30, 2023 – Atlanta, GA: Liberty vs. Penn State

With Tulane’s loss to SMU in AAC, it is very unlikely that SMU will have a chance to hop over Liberty for the Group of 5 bid. So, undefeated Liberty will play their biggest game in school history against multi-time national champion, Penn State. It will be a contrast in styles, on and off the field. What will Liberty look like on the big stage? That remains to be seen.

Orange Bowl – Dec. 30, 2023 – Miami, FL: Alabama vs. Louisville

And this is where the riots begin…

No SEC champion has ever been denied a playoff spot. It would be unprecedented and unthinkable to deny Alabama, champions of the SEC a playoff spot. Well, it’s been an unprecedented season with one result that still lingers to this day. Alabama’s loss to Texas should be counted against them, like it or not. Wins and losses must matter. Why is Louisville here? Well, someone has to take the ACC’s spot.

Fiesta Bowl – Jan. 1, 2024 – Glendale, AZ: Oregon vs. Georgia

Imagine being Oregon and Georgia, someone tells you that you’re going to be playing on New Year’s Day, the day the CFP semifinals. But you’re the opening act to a three-act drama that takes place on the first day of 2024. With losses on Friday and Saturday night – coupled with a logjam to get IN the playoff, Georgia and Oregon are relegated to the first game of the day, not the second or third.

2024 College Football Playoff

Rose Bowl – Jan. 1, 2024 – Pasadena, CA: Michigan vs. Texas

The Rose Bowl is traditional as hell. If they could, every year would be a Big Ten vs. Pac-12 (RIP) matchup, regardless of what’s going on around them. They almost, ALMOST get the Michigan vs. Washington showdown everybody’s wanted for the last few weeks, but with Michigan as my projected No. 1 team, they’ll face No. 4 seed Texas. As for the Longhorns, I would not be shocked if they put Texas at No. 3 but with them being the lone CFP team with a loss, they’re bumped to No. 4, regardless, it’ll be a great game.

Sugar Bowl – Jan. 1, 2024 – New Orleans, LA: Washington vs. Florida State

You could swap Washington or Michigan at the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the country, I went with Michigan because they’ve been my second-ranked team for the last few months. As for Florida State, the ACC champions are 13-0 and they did it in a major conference. That criteria alone is enough to put them in the playoff. I don’t care if their proverbial car crossed the finish line with both the front and back bumpers dangling, duct tape on both doors and an engine rattling as loudly as it did. They crossed the finish line without losing a game, in should be and will be rewarded.