It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the big runup to the college football playoffs and the national championship game! The rankings are out with a top tough five, but upsets exist and nothing is set in stone. While any of the top five teams are viable candidates to reach the playoffs and go on to compete for the national championship, there are a few teams in the mix that could shake up the remainder of the season. Keep reading for five FBS teams outside the top five that I think could still win the College Football National Championship.
The AP Top 5 Right Now
Right now, the top five teams in the AP Poll are Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan, and Clemson. All five teams are undefeated so far. And, all five teams have tough matchups approaching. It would come as no surprise for any of these teams to later make the playoffs and then compete for the national championship. But further down in the ranks are teams almost equally as viable for a place in the national spotlight.
No.6, Alabama Crimson Tide
This is pretty self explanatory because in all reality, any of the top six teams are still viable contenders for a shot at the National Championship. At 7-1, the Tide has had close calls with Texas and Texas A&M, plus a loss to Tennessee. Alabama isn’t playing to its typical level of dominance this season, but they’re still Alabama. They’ve got top tier talent and a top tier coach; they are still a dangerous team.
If Alabama wins out and beats an undefeated Tennessee or an undefeated Georgia in the SEC Championship, then Alabama is also a strong candidate for the National Championship.
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No.7, Texas Christian University Horned Frogs
The TCU Horned Frogs are having a banner year with first-year head coach Sonny Dykes. Like the AP’s top five teams, the Horned Frogs are still undefeated for the season; in fact, Dykes is the only undefeated coach not in the top six in the AP Top 25 Poll.
Dykes isn’t surprised by the lack of inclusion in the top spots, though, acknowledging the impact pre-season rankings can have on a team throughout the duration of a season–even a season like the one the Frogs are having. But, he also knows the margin for error is razor thin and the Frogs still have four games left on their schedule. If the Frogs maintain or exceed their current level of play, Dykes believes they can earn a spot in the top four.
To earn a top four spot, TCU has to win out and remain undefeated. Crazier things have happened.
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No.8, Oregon Ducks
In week one, Georgia beat the brakes off of Oregon in an ugly 49-3 loss. But, that is the Ducks’ only loss on the season and they’ve shown marked improvement in the weeks since.
Quarterback Bo Nix is playing tremendously well and the Ducks have scored at least 41 points per game since the early season loss. Despite wide receiver Seven McGee’s departure from the team, the Ducks have the talent to win out and find themselves in the Pac-12 Championship.
To earn a spot in the playoffs and maybe a shot at the national title, the Ducks have to defeat Colorado, Washington, and Oregon State in the coming weeks. They then have to win the Pac-12 Championship and hope the CFP committee sees their improvement through the season and grants them a spot in the playoffs. If that happens, the Ducks have the talent to pull off an upset and clinch a national championship.
No. 10, UCLA Bruins
Like Alabama, UCLA is 7-1 right now. They’ve scored at least 30 points in every game this season and are laser focused on continuing to build on their success. That focus has resulted in an on-field consistency from the Bruins that may carry them further than the pre-season anticipated.
This one’s a long shot. For UCLA to have a chance to compete for the title, they have to win every game for the remainder of the season and then win the Pac-12 Championship. After that they, like the Ducks, have to hope the committee values their consistency and rewards it with a spot in the playoffs.
No. 11, Ole Miss Rebels
At third in the SEC West, the 8-1 Ole Miss Rebels are a long shot but not an impossibility in the battle for the national title.
For Ole Miss to be a contender for the National Championship, a lot has to happen. First, Alabama needs to beat LSU. From there, Ole Miss needs to beat Alabama and win out. Then, the Rebels have to beat an undefeated Georgia Bulldogs or Tennessee Vols team in the SEC Championship.
As crazy as it sounds, the stars could align to land the Rebels a spot to compete for the national title.
National Nightmare for the CFP Committee
Arguably the biggest weeks in college football kick off this weekend, and the playoff committee will be watching closely hoping to avoid their worst nightmare.
Imagine: Clemson runs the table to remain defeated. TCU remains undefeated, as does either Ohio State or Michigan. Georgia beats Tennessee, and then Alabama beats Georgia in the SEC Championship. Then, the committee has to decide who’s in the playoffs. They now have to pick between three one loss SEC teams that are arguably stronger than every other team in the country or, three undefeated teams and the SEC champion.
Realistically, there are only seven teams that really stand a chance to win the national championship but, if everything works out perfectly for a select few others then they could have a chance to shock the world. But if chaos reigns supreme? Well, the CFP Committee is going to have one hell of a decision to make.
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