COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Although Ohio State's path to the Big Ten championship game gets more complicated week by week, its path to the College Football Playoff remains simple. The Buckeyes are in good standing to qualify for the playoff even if they don't qualify for the Big Ten championship. If they bounce back from a loss to Oregon and win the rest of the way, they should see themselves in the 12-team field. But this season is bringing surprises every week. Buckeyes OL Josh Simmons out for season as OSU looks to move on from Oregon loss NBC4 is providing a look at a projected 12-team playoff bracket every week before the first rankings are revealed on Nov. 5. Here is how the playoff bracket looks based on the Associated Press rankings and what changes we could see by next week. Projected playoff bracket The projected field has been evolving all season and as we approach the end of October, this is a perfect time to zoom in and break things down by conference. Ohio State/Big Ten: The Buckeyes are still the No. 6 team in the projected bracket but now have a new opponent. Last week, Ohio State was penciled in to play Tennessee but now is in position to play BYU at Ohio Stadium in the first round. For the first time, a Big Ten team sits in the top spot with Oregon the new No. 1 team. Undefeated Penn State is still in the field with the No. 5 seed. SEC: After Texas' loss to Georgia, the Southeastern Conference no longer has an unbeaten team. The Bulldogs now have the projected No. 2 seed as the top SEC school, and Texas, Tennessee, and LSU sit in the field with them. Two-loss Alabama is on the bubble. Big 12: For the first time, the Big 12 has two teams in our mock bracket thanks to the unbeaten runs of four-seed Iowa State and 11-seed BYU. It seems those two teams will compete for the Big 12 championship, with Kansas State in the wings. Ohio State men’s soccer rises to top of the rankings as postseason approaches ACC: Although Miami has been on cruise control with quarterback and Heisman-contender Cam Ward, the Hurricanes aren't out of the woods yet. Clemson remains in good form to challenge the Canes, although Pittsburgh and SMU could play spoiler. Group of Six: Boise State has been in the driver's seat for spot awarded to the fifth-best conference winner behind the running of Ashton Jeanty. A surprise could be in store if we see Army and Navy, both unbeaten in the American Athletic Conference, keep up their incredible play. And don't count out Notre Dame to return as an at-large team. Week 9 games that affect playoff picture No. 17 Boise State vs. UNLV: Friday night will be Boise State's biggest game of the season against Mountain West foe UNLV. The Rebels can become the new favorite for the Group of Six playoff spot with an upset at home. No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 24 Navy: MetLife Stadium will play host to a ranked matchup no one saw coming. The Fighting Irish have responded to their loss to Northern Illinois with plenty of blowouts, and the Midshipmen are a feel-good story for many fans. The winner could secure a spot in our mock bracket. From gridiron coach to OSU football usher No. 20 Illinois vs. No. 1 Oregon: For the last four weeks, the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the country has lost and that streak has a realistic chance of extending to five weeks. The top-ranked Ducks don't face an easy challenge as the Fighting Illini come in confident and hungry. No. 8 LSU vs. No. 14 Texas A&M: While Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee are the three top-ranked teams from the SEC, they are not even in the top two in the conference standings. Those spots belong to LSU and Texas A&M, two teams that often play wild games against each other. The winner will be the last SEC team with an unbeaten conference record.