College Football Playoff list awaits clarity

We know Alabama will make the four-team College Football Playoff field when it's announced Sunday (11 a.m., ESPN). The top-ranked Crimson Tide (13-0) secured a spot with its 35-28 comeback win over No. 4 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. And we also know that No. 2 Clemson (13-0), the ACC champion, and No. 3 Notre Dame (12-0) are near locks to get in.

So, who's the fourth?

Big 12 champion Oklahoma (No. 5, 12-1), Big Ten champion Ohio State (No. 6, 12-1) and Georgia (11-2) are the candidates. We'll project the Sooners, based on their higher ranking than the Buckeyes and the fact that Georgia has two losses. The selection committee, however, could surprise by picking the Bulldogs, who nearly upset an Alabama team that had beaten its previous 12 opponents by an average of more than 35 points.

Here are projections for the playoff semifinals and the rest of the New Year's Six bowls:

Cotton Bowl, Dec. 29, Arlington, Texas: No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Alabama

Orange Bowl, Dec. 29, Miami: No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Clemson

Peach, Dec. 29, Atlanta: Michigan vs. Florida

Sugar, Jan. 1, New Orleans: Georgia vs. Texas

Fiesta, Jan. 1, Glendale, Ariz.: LSU vs. Central Florida

Here are projections for the rest of the Big Ten's bowls:

Citrus, Jan. 1, Orlando: Penn State vs. Kentucky

Outback, Jan. 1, Tampa, Fla.: Northwestern vs. Texas A&M

Music City, Dec. 28, Nashville: Purdue vs. Mississippi State

Redbox, Dec. 31, Santa Clara, Calif.: Michigan State vs. Stanford

Pinstripe, Dec. 27, New York: Wisconsin vs. Syracuse

Quick Lane, Dec. 26, Detroit: Gophers vs. Virginia Tech

The Gophers' destination appears to be down to three bowls — the Redbox, Pinstripe and Quick Lane. Executive directors for the Redbox and Quick Lane both said they are impressed with Minnesota, and the Pinstripe's senior manager scouted the Gophers' 37-15 win at Wisconsin last week.