The College Football regular season has come to an end with a bang after an exciting rivalry weekend. Now only a handful of games stand between us and a fully unveiled College Football Playoff Schedule. At least 3 CFP spots will be decided this weekend as well as which teams will get an all-important bye into the Quarter Finals. Here’s a look at Who’s In, Who’s Out, and Who Needs a little help from the Committee.
Who’s In?
Oregon Ducks (12-0)
Texas Longhorns (11-1)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1)
Tennessee Volunteers (10-2)
Ohio St Buckeyes (10-2)
Penn St Nittany Lions (11-1)
Georgia Bulldogs (10-2)
Indiana Hoosiers (11-1)
All of the teams above should be a lock for the CFP unless the committee decides to penalize teams like Penn St or Georgia for a potential Conference Championship loss. Ohio State’s loss to Michigan in Rivalry Week could put their position to host a home playoff game in jeopardy but their strength of schedule should at least earn them a guaranteed spot in the 12 team CFP.
Check out: Ohio St fans want to replace Ryan Day
Spots Up for Grabs for Conference Champions
Big 12 Champion- Iowa St vs Arizona St
This matchup comes as somewhat of a surprise, neither team was considered a major contender for the conference title coming into the season, and as recently as 2 weeks ago neither team controlled their own destiny to make it into the Conference Title Game, but a chaotic end to the Big 12 regular season left both teams with a Win and in situation in rivalry week. Now only 1 game stands between either team and a CFP bid.
Mountain West Champion- UNLV vs Boise St
Theoretically if UNLV wins this matchup, they aren’t guaranteed a CFP spot as Tulane could still be a higher ranked conference champion, but I find it unlikely that they wouldn’t jump the Green Wave with a Victory over the 11th ranked Broncos. Ashton Jeanty has a chance to put an exclamation point on his Heisman campaign and take his Boise St team into the playoff berth they’ve been searching for since that Fiesta Bowl Win over Oklahoma oh so many years ago.
Check Out: Boise St Finishes Season with Playoffs in View
ACC Champion- Clemson vs SMU
Despite a very lackluster season by their standards, Clemson finds themselves in position to make another Playoff appearance with a win. Dabo Swinney thinks the ACC can get up to 3 teams into the playoffs with a Tigers win and went to bat for that in his post game press conference. SMU finds themselves in position to make it in even with a loss but that would require trusting the Committee in a way ACC fans know too well that can’t afford to do.
Hopeful Bubble Teams
Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3)
Miami Hurricanes (10-2)
South Carolina Gamecocks (9-3)
These teams are hoping that only the winner of the ACC title game makes it into the CFP and leaves 1 spot up for grabs between the three of them. The easiest rout for this would just involve SMU winning and taking Clemson completely out of the conversation, but after that point it comes down to what do you value most for the final spot. Miami has the better record but lacks when it comes to quality wins, South Carolina is the hottest team currently with a rivalry week win over Clemson, and Alabama has a Head-to-Head victory over South Carolina and one of the nation’s best Strength of Schedules. The Commitee will have a lot to talk about and it will make further expansion of the playoffs that much easier to push through.
Also Read: College Football Week 14 Review