{
    "meta": {
        "service": "Versus Sports Simulator",
        "about": "The FBS playoff field the Versus Sports Simulator ratings produce for the end of the season, on team strength alone.",
        "disclaimer": "A projection produced by the Versus Sports Simulator ratings, not the selection committee's field. The committee picks the real field once the regular season ends.",
        "sport": "College football",
        "division": "FBS",
        "season": "2026-2027",
        "week": 5,
        "isLatestWeek": false,
        "ratingsDate": "2026-09-27",
        "view": {
            "pickedBy": "versus",
            "fieldAsOf": "end-of-season",
            "description": "The FBS playoff field the Versus Sports Simulator ratings produce for the end of the season, on team strength alone."
        },
        "url": "https://www.versussportssimulator.com/college-football/fbs/playoff-projection/2026/week-5.json?by=versus",
        "htmlUrl": "https://www.versussportssimulator.com/college-football/fbs/playoff-projection/2026/week-5?by=versus",
        "license": "Free to quote with attribution to Versus Sports Simulator and a link to https://www.versussportssimulator.com/college-football/fbs/playoff-projection/2026/week-5?by=versus"
    },
    "format": {
        "fieldSize": 12,
        "byes": 4,
        "seededThrough": 12,
        "automaticBids": 5
    },
    "field": [
        {
            "seed": 1,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Texas",
            "abbreviation": "TEX",
            "conference": "SEC",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "SEC champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": 40.3,
            "record": "12-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 13,
            "currentRank": 1,
            "versusRank": 1,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 1,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 1,
            "playoffChance": 97.2
        },
        {
            "seed": 2,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Notre Dame",
            "abbreviation": "ND",
            "conference": "FBS Independents",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "12-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 12,
            "currentRank": 4,
            "versusRank": 2,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 45,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 4,
            "playoffChance": 100
        },
        {
            "seed": 3,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Alabama",
            "abbreviation": "ALA",
            "conference": "SEC",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "9-3",
            "gamesPlayed": 13,
            "currentRank": 3,
            "versusRank": 3,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 11,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 2,
            "playoffChance": 88.1
        },
        {
            "seed": 4,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Ohio State",
            "abbreviation": "OSU",
            "conference": "Big Ten",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Big Ten champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": 33.8,
            "record": "11-2",
            "gamesPlayed": 13,
            "currentRank": 8,
            "versusRank": 4,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 8,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 8,
            "playoffChance": 66.9
        },
        {
            "seed": 5,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Georgia",
            "abbreviation": "UGA",
            "conference": "SEC",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "10-2",
            "gamesPlayed": 12,
            "currentRank": 5,
            "versusRank": 5,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 31,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 5,
            "playoffChance": 92.3
        },
        {
            "seed": 6,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Florida",
            "abbreviation": "FLA",
            "conference": "SEC",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "10-2",
            "gamesPlayed": 12,
            "currentRank": 2,
            "versusRank": 6,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 3,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 3,
            "playoffChance": 83.3
        },
        {
            "seed": 7,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "LSU",
            "abbreviation": "LSU",
            "conference": "SEC",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "9-3",
            "gamesPlayed": 12,
            "currentRank": 16,
            "versusRank": 7,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 15,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 7,
            "playoffChance": 41
        },
        {
            "seed": 8,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Utah",
            "abbreviation": "UTAH",
            "conference": "Big 12",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Big 12 champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": 65.6,
            "record": "12-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 13,
            "currentRank": 14,
            "versusRank": 8,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 66,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 6,
            "playoffChance": 93.4
        },
        {
            "seed": 9,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Miami FL",
            "abbreviation": "MIA",
            "conference": "ACC",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "ACC champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": 51,
            "record": "11-2",
            "gamesPlayed": 13,
            "currentRank": 7,
            "versusRank": 9,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 38,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 10,
            "playoffChance": 82.8
        },
        {
            "seed": 10,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Indiana",
            "abbreviation": "IND",
            "conference": "Big Ten",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "10-2",
            "gamesPlayed": 12,
            "currentRank": 6,
            "versusRank": 10,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 46,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 9,
            "playoffChance": 70.7
        },
        {
            "seed": 11,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Oregon",
            "abbreviation": "ORE",
            "conference": "Big Ten",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "8-4",
            "gamesPlayed": 13,
            "currentRank": 9,
            "versusRank": 11,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 7,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 17,
            "playoffChance": 20.7
        },
        {
            "seed": 12,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Boise St",
            "abbreviation": "BSU",
            "conference": "Pac-12",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Pac-12 champion, best of the rest",
            "conferenceTitleChance": 62.7,
            "record": "11-2",
            "gamesPlayed": 13,
            "currentRank": 23,
            "versusRank": 23,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 59,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 24,
            "playoffChance": 46.8
        }
    ],
    "firstTeamsOut": [
        {
            "team": "Iowa",
            "conference": "Big Ten",
            "record": "9-3",
            "playoffChance": 42.2
        },
        {
            "team": "Pittsburgh",
            "conference": "ACC",
            "record": "10-2",
            "playoffChance": 71.2
        },
        {
            "team": "UCLA",
            "conference": "Big Ten",
            "record": "10-2",
            "playoffChance": 45.6
        },
        {
            "team": "Tennessee",
            "conference": "SEC",
            "record": "8-4",
            "playoffChance": 7.2
        },
        {
            "team": "Mississippi",
            "conference": "SEC",
            "record": "7-5",
            "playoffChance": 1.3
        }
    ],
    "firstRoundTravel": {
        "totalMiles": null,
        "tripsUnder400Miles": null,
        "trips": null,
        "milesUnderSeedOrder": null,
        "games": []
    },
    "bracket": [
        {
            "round": "First Round",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Miami FL",
                    "bottom": "Utah",
                    "host": "Utah",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Utah",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 57
                },
                {
                    "top": "Boise St",
                    "bottom": "Georgia",
                    "host": "Georgia",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Georgia",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 86
                },
                {
                    "top": "Oregon",
                    "bottom": "Florida",
                    "host": "Florida",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Florida",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 66
                },
                {
                    "top": "Indiana",
                    "bottom": "LSU",
                    "host": "LSU",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "LSU",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 68
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "Quarterfinals",
            "onCampus": false,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Texas",
                    "bottom": "Utah",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Texas",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 66
                },
                {
                    "top": "Ohio State",
                    "bottom": "Georgia",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Ohio State",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 51
                },
                {
                    "top": "Alabama",
                    "bottom": "Florida",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Alabama",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 56
                },
                {
                    "top": "Notre Dame",
                    "bottom": "LSU",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Notre Dame",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 62
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "Semifinals",
            "onCampus": false,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Texas",
                    "bottom": "Ohio State",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Texas",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 57
                },
                {
                    "top": "Alabama",
                    "bottom": "Notre Dame",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Notre Dame",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 59
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "National Championship",
            "onCampus": false,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Texas",
                    "bottom": "Notre Dame",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Notre Dame",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 52
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}