In a significant development for college football, the College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand from four teams to 12 teams starting next season. The latest CFP Rankings serve as the basis for projections of the playoff bracket, which will include the six highest-rated conference champions and the next six highest-ranked programs. Let's examine how the playoff bracket would shape up after nine weeks of the 2023 season.

The second set of CFP Rankings, released on Tuesday night, showed minor changes within the top 10. Oklahoma dropped out, while Ole Miss and Penn State moved up a spot in the rankings. Notably, Ole Miss' rise in the rankings sets up an intriguing first-round matchup against Alabama.

Joining the playoff picture at No. 11 is Louisville, adding another team to the mix. Tulane climbed to No. 22, emerging as the sole Group of Five team in the rankings after Air Force's defeat to Army.

Based on the current CFP Rankings, here's a breakdown of the projected matchups in the 2023 College Football Playoff:

In the first round, we have Ole Miss (No. 9) facing off against Alabama (No. 8), with the winner advancing to play against the top-seeded Ohio State (No. 1). Meanwhile, Tulane (No. 12) will take on Michigan (No. 5), battling for a chance to go up against Washington (No. 4) in the next round.

Louisville (No. 11) will be pitted against Oregon (No. 6) in another first-round matchup. The victor will then challenge Florida State (No. 3) for a spot in the semifinals. Finally, Penn State (No. 10) will clash with Texas (No. 7), and the winner will face Georgia (No. 2) in the next round.

It is important to note that these projections are based on the current CFP Rankings, and there is a possibility of adjustments to the playoff format in the future. Concerns about the struggling Pac-12 conference's representation may lead to changes in the number of guaranteed playoff spots for conference champions or the elimination of automatic qualifiers altogether.

As college football fans eagerly await the implementation of the expanded playoff, the 2023 season promises increased excitement, as more teams will have a shot at a national championship. The larger bracket will bring new opportunities for programs to showcase their talent and leave an indelible mark on the college football landscape.

The college football community now waits to see how the remaining weeks of the season unfold and whether these projections for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff will hold true.