Conference championship week is among us in college football and the College Football Playoff is right around the corner. This week’s conference championship matchups could have a huge effect on the College Football Playoff rankings, as some key matchups could cause changes for the selection committee.
Games like the SEC Championship, Pac-12 Championship and ACC Championship will all have an impact on the committee’s selection of the four playoff seeds. A number of teams will not be competing in their respective conference’s championship game, but feel their resume stacks up and could get in with some luck.
The College Football Playoff rankings feature several one-loss teams, with a few being in control of their destiny and could find themselves in the playoff with a conference championship win
Let’s look at four teams that could shock people and sneak into the College Football Playoff’s top four:
Four College Football Teams That Could Sneak Into the Playoff
Alabama Crimson Tide
Following Alabama’s loss to Texas early in the season, many wrote the Crimson Tide off from being playoff contenders. The team went through its share of struggles, going as far as benching quarterback Jalen Milroe after the loss to Texas. Since that point, Alabama has gotten the job done, going 10-0 after their loss with Top-25 wins over Ole Miss, LSU, and Tennessee.
Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe has put his team in great positions to win throughout the season. Versus 14th-ranked LSU, Milroe outplayed Heisman-hopeful Jayden Daniels to the tune of 374 total yards and four touchdowns.
The Iron Bowl yielded yet another clutch showing from Mileroe, leading the Alabama offense to a 4th and 31 conversion while throwing his second touchdown of the game on the last-second heave. Jalen Milroe finished the game with 259 passing yards and two passing touchdowns to go with his 107 rushing yards and, more importantly, punching Alabama’s ticket to the SEC Championship game and keeping the Crimson Tide’s season alive.
Alabama will play top-ranked Georgia in a crucial SEC Championship game that could punch the Crimson Tide’s ticket to the College Football Playoff with a win. Georgia may still find their way into the top four, with their only loss being in the conference championship but a win from Alabama would almost certainly get the Tide back into the playoff.
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks have a chance to avenge their only loss of the season in the Pac-12 Championship game. Washington beat Oregon 36-33 following a missed last-second field goal that would have tied the contest at 36. Outside of the loss to Washington, Oregon has a nearly perfect resume thanks to nearly perfect play from their quarterback.
The Ducks boast three Top-25 wins and credit a large portion of their success to quarterback Bo Nix. Oregon’s Heisman hopeful has thrown for 3,906 yards and scored 43 total touchdowns with just two interceptions on the season. Nix’s throwing ability, with his mind-boggling efficiency, has put the Ducks in a position to win week in and week out.
Versus Washington, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix squared off in an instant classic. Both quarterbacks played exceptionally well, with Nix completing 75% of his passes on 44 attempts with 337 yards and two touchdowns.
Oregon will square off against Washington yet again in the Pac-12 Championship game and will look to avenge what was their only loss in the regular season. A win from the Ducks will go a long way to securing a playoff spot. An avenged loss with a Pac-12 Championship is a hard resume to keep out of the top four.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Rumors are swirling around the Ohio State Buckeyes following the team’s third-straight loss to rival Michigan. From transfer portal to coaching rumors, the Buckeyes will need to remain on the straight and narrow in case the team hears their name called as one of the top four.
Ohio State is the only team on this list that is not in control of their destiny. The Buckeyes need a lot of help but could still find their way into the top four. Ohio State’s best shot is getting in at four, with the top three being solidified with Georgia, Michigan, and Washington. The Buckeyes need losses from Texas, Oregon, Alabama, and Florida State. With Oregon and Alabama winning, Washington and Georgia could still find themselves in the top four, with their only losses being in their respective conference championship matchups.
Despite the regular season loss, Ohio State still has an impressive resume with two top-ten wins over Notre Dame and Penn State. The loss isn’t necessarily a horrible one, losing by just six points on the road and to the second-ranked team in the country.
The road to the playoff isn’t a likely one, but the Buckeyes’ resume speaks for itself. Ohio State has an 11-1 record, with their only loss coming to a fellow playoff team. They need some help, but if all comes true, the Buckeyes will be a hard team to keep out of the top four.
Texas Longhorns
Following the big win over Alabama, the Texas Longhorns saw their share of struggles but only suffered one loss. 12th-ranked Oklahoma defeated Texas in the Red River Showdown. The Longhorns bounced back in a big way, winning six straight with two Top-25 wins on the season to finish 11-1 despite dealing with their share of adversity throughout the season.
Quarterback Quinn Ewers has missed time but Texas’ brand of team football has them in a spot to secure a place in the top four. Texas will play 20th-ranked Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game, but like Ohio State, Texas could need some help.
A conference championship win would go a long way, but Texas will likely need losses from Alabama, Oregon, and Florida State to get in. Texas has the head-to-head win over Alabama, but the Crimson Tide have been on fire, winning 10 in a row. Alabama will be nearly impossible to keep out of the playoff with an SEC Championship game victory over Georgia. Florida State would also almost definitely get in with a 12-0 record and an ACC Championship. The Washington-Oregon game could have a similar impact to the Alabama-Georgia game, where Texas needs Washington to win if they want in.
The Longhorns will need their share of help but remain in control of their destiny with a Big 12 Championship opportunity. Texas will have quarterback Quinn Ewers healthy and at the helm for a crucial game versus Oklahoma State. Their journey to the College Football Playoff starts with a win this weekend.
