2021 CFB Projections: Top Ten Teams, Conference Champions, and Playoff Contenders

About the Analysis Our power five-win projections and analysis will provide our total projected team win totals, team strength of schedule, conference champs, and playoff contenders.
Strength of Schedule The strength of schedule rankings uses returning team production, three-year win totals, and 247 sports total team talent average from the last three years.
College Football Returning Starter, Total Talent Analysis Returning starters will be considered in the projections but will not carry similar weight to a team with higher value in the 247 Sports total team talent rating. Returning starters will serve as a tie-breaker in situations where two teams are equally as talented. Go to CFB Projections Dashboard Click Here The Football Scout 365 Top Ten Teams, Conference Champions, and Playoff Contenders (#1) Alabama Crimson Tide (Wins SEC, Makes Playoff, Wins Title) Head Coach: Nick Saban 2021 W/L Projection: 12-0 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 7th Three-Year Win %: 92.7% (1st) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 1st 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 1st Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 29 (#2) Clemson Tigers (Wins ACC, Makes Playoff, Loses National Title) Head Coach: Dabo Swinney 2021 W/L Projection: 11-1 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 50th Three-Year Win %: 92.2% (2nd) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 6th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 5th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 18
(#3) Oklahoma Sooners (Wins Big 12, Makes Playoff) Head Coach: Lincoln Riley 2021 W/L Projection: 11-1 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 30th Three-Year Win %: 84.4% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 11th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 10th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 17 (#4) Ohio State Buckeyes (Wins Big Ten, Makes Playoff) Head Coach: Ryan Day 2021 W/L Projection: 11-1 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 56th Three-Year Win %: 91.0% (3rd) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 2nd 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 2nd Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 28 (#5) Georgia Bulldogs (Plays Alabama in SEC Title Loses) Head Coach: Kirby Smart 2021 W/L Projection: 10-2 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 11th Three-Year Win %: 81.4% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 3rd 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 4th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 23 (#6) North Carolina Tarheels (Plays Clemson in ACC Title Loses) Head Coach: Mack Brown 2021 W/L Projection: 10-2 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 40th Three-Year Win %: 46.23% (44th) (Brown Has Been on Campus Two Years). Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 25th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 14th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 8 (#7) Oregon Ducks (Wins Pac 12) Head Coach: Mario Cristobal 2021 W/L Projection: 10-2 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 35th Three-Year Win %: 70.7% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 17th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 6th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 13
(#8) Texas A&M Aggies Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher 2021 W/L Projection: 9-3 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 29th Three-Year Win %: 73.6% (10th) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 13th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 8th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 13 (#9) Wisconsin Badgers (Plays Ohio State In Big Ten Title Loses) Head Coach: Paul Chryst 2021 W/L Projection: 9-3 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 51st Three-Year Win %: 63.4% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 34th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 16th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 11 (#10) Iowa State Cyclones Head Coach: Matt Campbell 2021 Regular Season Win Projection: 9-3 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 14th Three-Year Win %: 63.5% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 54th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 60th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 3