Things are starting to get really interesting in the college football playoff picture. A top 4 team hit an unexpected speed bump over the weekend and may have seen their playoff hopes evaporate into thin air, leaving us with a free for all for the final spot in top 4. I can see that final spot going to a few different teams based on resumes and strength of schedule, but there is still a few weeks left and plenty of football to be played.
Who’s In?
- Mississippi State
The Bulldogs got a warm up in for Alabama as they took on Tennessee Martin over the weekend. Naturally the game was never in doubt and the MSU got their starters out early as they try to get healthy for their biggest game of the year to date.
- Florida State
The Noles notched another double digit victory over Virginia as they moved one step closer to repeating as ACC champs. Next up is their annual rivalry with Miami, which is must see TV every year. One thing to monitor going forward is Jameis Winston’s tendency to turn the ball over, threw two more picks against Virginia.
- Oregon
The Ducks put another impressive win on their resume over the weekend as they put up 51 against a ranked Utah team on the road and clinched the PAC-12 North. This team is hitting their stride, but the injuries are starting to pile up as they may have lost two offensive starters for the season. Marcus Mariota is looking like a Heisman contender, but protecting him is key going forward.
- TCU
I’m sticking to my guns on this one. I had TCU as the first team out ahead of Alabama last week and all they did was blow out a top 10 team in Kansas State this weekend. I am not moving them backwards after an impressive victory like that. This final spot will certainly be up for debate, but when I look at resumes to this point I am more impressed by TCU. This may be the most dangerous team in the playoff with the way Trevone Boykin is playing. If this team makes it into the dance, I wouldn’t want to see them.
Who’s Out?
- Alabama
Let the outrage begin. The Crimson Tide overcame a TJ Yeldon fumble late in the 4th quarter and were able to escape Death Valley with a win. While this is a great win for Alabama’s resume, it seemed like they borrowed some of that late game magic from Auburn because LSU seemed to do everything they could to lose the ball game. Alabama will have no time to rest on their laurels as they host Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
- Baylor
Welcome back to the playoff picture Baylor. The Bears absolutely dismantled Oklahoma in Norman over the weekend and put themselves right back in the thick of things going into the final few weeks. Maybe it was something I said?
- Arizona State
The Sun Devils eliminated the Fighting Irish from the playoff picture with an emphatic victory out in the desert over the weekend. With the rivalry game against Arizona still left on the schedule and a potential showdown with Oregon on the horizon, the Sun Devils still have a puncher’s chance at sneaking in to the Final Four.
Summary
I really would hate to be on the committee at this point. The way things are playing out someone deserving to make it in is probably going to be left out and we will have to hear about it all offseason. A few years ago when I said that a playoff format with eight teams would probably be the ideal number and I still think we will get that eventually. The argument between TCU and Alabama can really go either way at this point, but with the way the schedule is setup, both may get in anyway. Here’s a question folks need to ask themselves, is there a possibility that the SEC ends up with no teams in the playoff? Something to think about going forward.