In a surprising turn of events, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been knocked out of the projected College Football Playoff field following a stunning 16-14 defeat against Northern Illinois. This defeat, which sent shockwaves through the college football world, resulted in Notre Dame dropping out of the playoff picture while the Big 12 conference saw an increase in representation with four teams in contention.

Week 2 of college football was filled with unexpected outcomes, and the clash between Texas and Michigan was anticipated to be the highlight of the day. However, it was the clash between Northern Illinois and Notre Dame that grabbed the headlines with the Huskies claiming a hard-fought victory. The Irish had previously started their season on a high note with a remarkable win against Texas A&M, which propelled them into the College Football Playoff projections. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, their loss to Northern Illinois proved to be a significant setback, resulting in their exclusion from the projected playoff field.

Credit must be given to Northern Illinois, who displayed impressive dominance on both the offensive and defensive lines, outperforming Notre Dame in these crucial areas. This unexpected outcome demonstrates the unpredictable nature of college football and the potential for underdogs to seize moments of triumph.

Meanwhile, Iowa State's come-from-behind victory against in-state rivals Iowa in a nail-biting 20-19 finish has catapulted them into the College Football Playoff projections. The Cyclones' resilience and determination paid off, while the Hawkeyes were unfortunate to be on the losing end of the game, consequently being removed from playoff contention.

Adding to the excitement, Oklahoma State has entered this week's playoff projections, granting the Big 12 conference the distinction of having the most teams represented with a total of four. Kansas State and predicted champion Utah, on the other hand, have managed to retain their spots from last week.

As college football fans continue to witness unexpected twists and turns throughout the season, the shakeup in the projected College Football Playoff field serves as a reminder that no team is safe from upsets or surprises. The coming weeks promise nail-biting matchups and potential shifts in the playoff picture, providing fans with ample reason to stay engaged and eagerly anticipate the ultimate outcomes.