Okay for those of you who may not know the college football playoff was added in 2014. The top 4 teams* Play to determine the college football champion. The 4 teams are chosen by the Selection Committee, They take into account factors such a Strength of Schedule, Quality Wins and if you won your Conference Championship. Keep that last part in mind as I do my best to show you how each team can extend their chance to win the ultimate college football prize.
Let’s start from the top:
#1 Clemson
Resume
Record: 11-1
Conference Champion: To Be Decided
Quality Wins: (Ranking at the Time)
- Home vs #2 Auburn(13) 14-6
- At Louisville(14) 47-21
- At #22 Virginia Tech(12) 31-17
- At #24 NC State(20) 38-31
- At #24 South Carolina 34-10
Bad Loss: (Ranking at the Time)
- Away vs Syracuse 27-24
Road Map
The loss to Syracuse isn’t looked at nearly as bad for 2 reasons, Syracuse was proven to be better than expected all season and Kelly Bryant was injured in the very beginning of the game. Regardless its simple for the Tigers its Win and In. Beat #7 Miami in the ACC Championship and they will be in the Playoff as the #1 overall seed. If Clemson Loses they would need some serious help They would need Auburn, Oklahoma and Wisconsin to all lose. If that was to happen i think the Top 4 would be 1. Georgia 2. Miami 3. Alabama 4. Clemson
You can find out where to watch Dabo and the boys determine their fate here.
#2 Auburn
Resume
Record: 10-2
Conference Champion: To Be Decided
Quality Wins:
- Home vs #23 Mississippi St(24) 49-10
- Home vs #6 Georgia(1) 40-17
- Home vs #5 Alabama(1) 26-14
- At Texas A&M 42-27
Bad Loss:
None
Road Map
Auburn beat the #1 team in the country TWICE! That alone should get you into the playoff unfortunately thats not the case. The good news is that if they win they will be in as well. The bad news if they lose they will be out. 3 losses on the year would be just too big a number to the committee to ignore.
You can find out where to watch Gus Malzahn and the Tigers try and beat Georgia for the second time here
#3 Oklahoma
Resume
Record:11-1
Conference Champion: To Be Decided
Quality Wins:
- At #8 Ohio St.(2) 31-16
- At #19 Oklahoma St.(11) 62-52
- Home vs #11 TCU(6) 38-20
Bad Loss:
- Home vs Iowa St 38-31
Road Map
Baker Mayfield. Sorry but you can t talk about Oklahoma without mentioning Baker, he is their heart beat and the Heisman hopeful* link to Heisman* is one game away from taking the Sooners to the Playoff. Their one bad loss* to Iowa St isn’t as bad as it seems. Iowa St was ranked for a majority of the year and have proven to be one of the toughest teams in the country. The Good outshines the bad here by far. If Oklahoma wins they WILL. BE. IN! But if they lose this game I don’t believe they have a strong enough resume to get into the playoffs.
Baker is must see TV! find out where to watch Baker battle the Horned Frogs here.
#4 Wisconsin
Resume
Record: 12-0
Conference Champion: To Be Decided
Quality Wins:
- Home vs Iowa(20) 38-14
- Home vs Michigan(24) 24-10
Bad Loss:
None
Road Map
I feel like the Wisconsin Badgers are in this same exact situation every year. You’ll remember in the first ever college football playoff Ohio St and Wisconsin battled to see who would get into the playoff. It didn’t go well for Wisconsin who lost 59-0. Once again is Ohio St vs Wisconsin for the Big10 Championship and a spot in the playoff. If Wisconsin wins.. THEY WILL BE IN. and just like Oklahoma ahead of them, if they lose their body of work will just not be enough.
Lets see if the Badgers can change the trends of the past and finally win the big game against bitter rival Buckeyes. Fins out where to watch it here
#5 Alabama
Resume
Record: 11-1
Conference Champion: Nope
Quality Wins:
- Home vs Florida St(3) 49-10
- Home vs #19 LSU(1) 24-10
- At #23 Mississippi St.(16) 26-14
Bad Loss:
None
Road Map
Alabama rolled through a particularly easy schedule. beating Florida St week one seemed like a big deal at the time but Florida St has done nothing but go down hill since. Beating LSU and Mississippi St will goad well in their favor. The one loss to currently #2 ranked Auburn doesn’t hurt the Tide either. What does hurt them is the fact they can’t win their Conference Championship. So Nick Saban’s going to need some help. They need Auburn, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin to lose to get a spot in the playoff for sure. If 2 of those 3 lose ,then its going to be up totally up to the committee if Bama gets to be in or not.
Watch Saban sit on his couch and watch as the Tides future lies in the hands of the College Football Gods here. Just Kidding but that would be something I’d watch.
#6 Georgia
Resume
Record- 11-1
Conference Champion- To Be Decided
Quality Wins:
- At #15 Notre Dame(24) 20-19
- Home vs #23 Mississippi(17) 31-3
Bad Loss:
None
Road Map
The Georgia Bulldogs like most of the other teams I’ve talked about control their own destiny. They have a chance to not only avenge their only loss on the year and clinch a spot in the playoff but they can also crush Auburns chances of making the playoffs. So Georgia needs too win and they WILL BE IN. If they lose its gonna be an absolute mess! If they lose their 2 losses will be to Auburn who will be #1 or #2 in the country but the problem is 1 loss Alabama who’s only loss is also to Auburn would probably rank above them. So that means if Georgia loses they will need TCU to beat Oklahoma and they will need Ohio St to barely beat Wisconsin. If that happens the top 4 should be 1. Auburn 2. Winner of Clemson/Miami 3. Alabama 4. Georgia
Bulldogs and Tigers OH MY! find out where to watch the dogs and frogs battle it out here
#7 Miami
Resume
Record: 10-1
Conference Champion: To Be Decided
Quality Wins:
- Home vs #22 Virginia Tech(13) 28-10
- Home vs #15 NotreDame(3) 40-17
- At Florida St. 24-20
Bad Loss:
- At Pitt 24-14
Road Map
Miami was on top of the world after Notre Dame came to the U and they absolutely destroyed them. The Turnover chain has been huge and bringing back the spirit of the U that captivated the 90’s and 2000’s. If Miami beats Clemson in the ACC title game they will punch their ticket to the Playoff. You know what that means!? the U would be back!!! If the Hurricanes fail to beat Dabo and the Tigers they will not ind themselves battling for the National Championship
Is the U back or is Dabo gonna repeat!? Find out where to watch these 2 exciting teams battle it out here.
#8 Ohio St
Resume
Record: 10-2
Conference Champion: To Be Decided
Quality Wins:
- Home vs #9 Penn St.(2) 39-38
- Home vs #16 Alabama(12) 26-14
Bad Loss:
At Iowa 55-24
Road Map
The Buckeyes always seem to be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs but then they always find a way to squeak in. They will need a performance like 2014 when they won 59-0 and more to have a chance to get it. Losing to Iowa by 31 is really what holds them back. If they destroy Wisconsin and then Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma and USC losses or doesn’t blow out Stanford they could find themselves with another miraculous playoff birth.
To find out where to catch Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes try and bully the Badgers once again look here.
USC
Resume
Record: 10-2
Conference Champion: To Be Decided
Quality Wins:
- Home vs #23 Mississippi St(24) 49-10
- Home vs #6 Georgia(1) 40-17
- Home vs #5 Alabama(1) 26-14
- At Texas A&M 42-27
Bad Loss:
None
Road Map
USC has the smallest chance of all, they would have to beat Stanford by 60 and need a lot to go right to even be slightly in the conversation. They would need narrow wins by Ohio St, Miami, TCU, and Georgia. They would still need the committee to choose them over Ohio St who would be in the same boat but USC’s 2 losses come against 2 Ranked opponents on the road and with a huge victory over #12 Stanford they might have just enough to edge Ohio St for the #4 Seed. The Top 4 would be 1. Georgia 2. Miami 3. Alabama 4. USC
You can find where to watch Same Darnold lead his Trojans against Bryce Love and the Cardinals here.
