Editor’s note: Each Sunday the Las Vegas Review-Journal will select the four teams most likely to be in the CFP semifinals ahead of the title game in Las Vegas.
Miami and Ohio State each got dynamic performances from their stars that should keep Malachi Toney and Jeremiah Smith firmly near the top of the Heisman Trophy odds board as two of the best receivers in the nation.
Well, at least until Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase decide to come back to LSU this season.
But more importantly for the Hurricanes and Buckeyes, they got easy victories and went relatively unchallenged to stay in the mix for high seeds in the College Football Playoff.
Toney was unguardable as he had 234 yards and three touchdowns on 12 catches in a 45-6 road rout of Stanford on Friday night.
Smith, a projected top pick in the 2027 NFL draft, wasn’t going to be outshined after sleeping on those highlights.
He posted eight catches for 151 yards and two scores in the Buckeyes’ 56-3 home win over Ball State on Saturday.
Toney and Smith could both take center stage when Las Vegas hosts the CFP national championship game on Jan. 25.
Both teams remained in the Review-Journal’s CFP semifinal projections with their performances.
The projections, updated each Sunday, figure to change often.
But not this week.
The top four remain static with top choice Notre Dame set to kick off its season Sunday against Wisconsin. The Irish aren’t the best team in the country, but they play a schedule with few land mines that could stand in their way of a top seed.
Indiana and Texas are just outside the top four, but they are tough to project jumping into that group because of their schedules. The Hoosiers, who got an incredibly efficient debut from TCU transfer Josh Hoover, should be 6-0 before entering a stretch of four ranked opponents in five games.
Oregon could very well get in the mix at some point, but the nation’s No. 2 team needed nearly 400 passing yards and three touchdowns worth of heroics against Boise State at home on Saturday in a 34-27 win.
The Ducks fell behind 17-7 early and really struggled before getting it together.
Here are this week’s Review-Journal CFP Las Vegas Top Four projections:
1. Notre Dame
There was a time when playing Wisconsin would represent a massive challenge and generate all sorts of national hype. This is not that time. The Badgers have fallen off a cliff as a program and are about a three-touchdown underdog on Sunday. The Irish should roll.
2. Ohio State
Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin are going to give defenses nightmares all season. The Buckeyes also allowed just 165 total yards.
3. Georgia
Gunner Stockton had a tremendous day, completing 15 of 16 attempts for 202 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of a 63-3 blowout win over Tennessee State before getting the final 30 minutes off. The schedule will get tougher.
4. Miami
The Hurricanes could not have been more impressive in their opener, going across the country to absolutely destroy a Stanford team that already had a game under its belt. Duke transfer Darian Mensah was absolutely spectacular.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
