College Football Eliminator 2016-17: Week 6
Two days early because why not? Halfway through the 2016-17 college football season and things are just as crazy as we thought they would be. Just six weeks into the season, we have eliminated 107 of the 128-team FBS field, leaving just 21 teams left fighting for four playoff spots. 17 teams will be eliminated over the course of the next several weeks to make our playoff the right way. This week, it's all about numbers and technicalities. "Does this team deserve to be in the playoff?" The picture is pretty clear right now: the winner of Ohio State-Michigan and Alabama-Texas A&M are in, plus Clemson and Washington. But college football tends to be a bit more complicated when it's all said and done, which is why we need the eliminator! At this point in the game, my major concern is the possibility that the committee overlooks the undefeated Group of Five teams or one-loss Power Five teams. There are only two Group of Five teams left in playoff contention: Boise State and Western Michigan. Boise State has a win over Oregon State under its belt and Western Michigan beat Northwestern and Illinois. Both of these Broncos' (!!) schedules ease up a ton for the second portion of the season, making it hard for the committee to let either of these teams in unless there is a total collapse with the rest of the field, but I think that if you go undefeated, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to attempt playing for a national title. There should be some kind of wildcard added or something for the #4 team ranked by the CFP committee and an undefeated team that isn't playoff caliber in the minds of the committee. I just think that's fair. One of the Bronco teams is one of my two new additions to the Outside Looking In group after Houston and Miami fell out. My argument has no meaning if neither of these teams win out, so back me up Broncos! Anyways, let's check out the 21 teams remaining and the nine that said goodbye to their playoff hopes this week.
Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Four Playoff Teams
It's still #1 Alabama, #4 Michigan, #2 Ohio State, and #3 Clemson. Alabama annihilated Arkansas. Michigan rumbled over Rutgers. Ohio State impaled Indiana. Clemson blasted Boston College. Absolutely astonishing alliterations.
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Outside Looking In
Say goodbye to two old members of the playoff back-up squad: Houston and Miami. Before you ask, "Where is Baylor?? Why isn't Louisville here??", let me explain. Baylor isn't here because of that crap they pulled in Ames against Iowa State. You can consider yourself toast if you lose to the Cyclones, and Baylor was very close to doing just that. Louisville isn't here because there are more deserving teams. Teams that haven't lost any games yet. Teams that don't need flashy Heisman players to be recognized as a group. Teams that have blue fields and vegetable mascots!! #6 Texas A&M, #5 Washington, #10 Nebraska, and #15 Boise State are the first four out. Yeah, I added Boise State. This team is special, but there's no telling what the committee thinks of them. Brett Rypien threw 5 touchdowns in just 19 completions on 26 attempts for 368 yards...in the first half. The Broncos eased up after that, losing the second half 7-14 against New Mexico, but still easily taking the victory 49-21.
Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports
Nebraska is welcomed into the elite eight for the first time this season because...well, I'm not really sure why. They had a bye last week that they used to prepare for a trip to Indiana this Saturday. If they come out on top in that one, the Cornhuskers will move to 6-0 and will be holding a nice lead over Wisconsin in the Big Ten West, who they hope will lose to Ohio State, making it a lot tougher for the Badgers to win the division. The question is: Can the Huskers hang with the big dogs like Ohio State and Michigan? The answer could be a very fun Big Ten championship game.
In the Hunt (Just Three Teams!?!)
#11 Baylor - Hopefully, the Bears will look better against Kansas than TCU did. Going into McLane Stadium, I'd say the Jayhawks are on a mental Big 12 win streak. On a side note, the Bears are just on the cusp of my Outside Looking In group behind Boise State. I know Baylor's competition is...more competitive, but Boise State hasn't let another team lead all season and they look like they might beat Baylor if the two teams were to play today, in my mind. Baylor's scare against Iowa State did not show that they are ready for the other teams that would be meeting them in the playoff. If the Bears win out and other Power Five conference champions can't go undefeated, consider them in.
#24 Western Michigan - Win all your games. Give the committee something to talk about. You've already beaten two Big Ten teams...Win out, then we'll talk, Broncos.
Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
#20 West Virginia - The Mountaineers will come off their bye week to visit Texas Tech in Lubbock...1,500 miles away from Morgantown. Do they fly? Or do they Greyhound like John Madden? Is Greyhound a verb? I need answers.
On the Fence
Arizona State - The Sun Devil defensive line will be tried in court today for the manslaughter of Josh Rosen. I can't count on two hands the number of times he was sacked, pressured, and times he went back to the locker room or sideline in pain combined.
#18 Florida - This was a weird week for the Gators without ever having to play a snap. The threat of Hurricane Matthew forced the SEC to postpone their date with LSU, which helps Florida in the SEC East race while pissing off Tennessee fans. The technical stuff can wait until it starts to matter for the real playoff picture. For now, let's see if the Gators can actually win out in the SEC.
Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
#7 Louisville - The Cardinals will come home to face Duke on Friday night thirteen days after their loss to Clemson in Death Valley. Should be a piece of cake for Lamar Jackson and crew.
Maryland - The Terrapins suffered their first loss of the year to Penn State, bringing them down but not out. They need to get things straightened out on defense before their game against Minnesota this week.
#16 Miami - "Join the club." - Nick Rose, Former Texas Kicker
#9 Tennessee - It was bound to happen at some point. The Volunteers finally dropped a game for the first time this season. Tennessee fans may be even more mad at the fact that Florida opted out of their bout with LSU because of the way the SEC picks the winner of the SEC East in that situation.
#21 Utah - Lots of injuries, but a win over Arizona, none the less.
#17 Virginia Tech - The Hokies dominated North Carolina in every facet of the game, eliminating them in the process.
Wake Forest - Of course there were a half dozen games played in swampy, hurricane-y weather, because college football. In this one, the Demon Deacons' defense was the most important group of eleven on the field, allowing no points out of halftime. Maybe they changed into sneakers or something?
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
#8 Wisconsin - The Badgers avoided this wild week of college football with a bye. They take on Ohio State at home and I'm taking a wild guess when I predict that the College Gameday team will be at Camp Randall for this one. A loss springs Nebraska into a huge lead in the Big Ten West and Wisconsin would have to be eliminated.
Eliminated
Air Force - All three military branches with college football teams (Army, Navy, and Air Force) showed up this year. The Falcons are the last of the three to fall out of playoff contention after their nine-point loss to Wyoming. The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy isn't only up for grabs, but possibly a spot in a really nice-sounding bowl game.
Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Arkansas - Not much to frown about if you're Arkansas. Losses to Texas A&M and Alabama look great when it comes to good losses. The Razorbacks are not a playoff team this year, though. Their games against Ole Miss and Florida will be fun to watch in my opinion.
Colorado - Losses to Michigan and USC sent the Buffaloes' playoff hopes into extinction. Too soon?
Houston - "The brigade spills out!" will be my favorite line from any college football game this year. A close second to last year's call in the Florida-Tennessee game: "He's going to score!" by Mick Hubert. Anyways, it's a shame that Houston is out after suffering only one loss but that's how the Group of Five works. If they move into a Power Five conference, this would be different.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana - The Hoosiers quietly go out with a 21-point loss to Ohio State. That is all.
Minnesota - The Gophers' offense looked sloppy again on Saturday. They just could not find a way to put points on the board and it cost them the Floyd of Rosedale trophy this year. Yeah, the bronze statue of the pig.
North Carolina - The conditions didn't help the Tar Heels, but they shouldn't have really helped the Hokies either. North Carolina dropped this one at home and their playoff hopes vanish with it, just a week after ending Florida State's playoff run. Someone hand me some popcorn!
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Stanford - CRUSHING defeats from Washington and Washington State (at home!) ended all hope of getting into the playoff for the Cardinal as the Huskies move closer and closer to the playoff picture.
Texas Tech - Arizona State and Kansas State did the Red Raiders in. Tech's defense allowed 193 points over the course of just five games. No bueno.
Eliminated in Week 5
Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Memphis, Michigan State, Navy, San Diego State, TCU, Texas, Toledo
Eliminated in Week 4
Arizona, Army, Central Michigan, Georgia Southern, LSU, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, South Florida, UCLA
Eliminated in Week 3
Auburn, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Duke, East Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, Marshall, Missouri, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Southern Miss
Eliminated in Week 2
Akron, Ball State, BYU, California, Connecticut, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, NC State, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Old Dominion, Purdue, SMU, South Alabama, Syracuse, Texas Tech, Troy, Tulsa, UCF, UNLV, Utah State, UTEP, UTSA, Western Kentucky, Wyoming
Eliminated in Week 1
Appalachian State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Charlotte, FIU, Fresno State, Georgia State, Hawaii, Iowa State, Kent State, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Massachusetts, Miami (OH), Mississippi State, New Mexico State, North Texas, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio, Oregon State, Rice, Rutgers, San Jose State, Southern California, Temple, Tulane, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Washington State
Check back in next Wednesday (or on another day, who knows really?) to find out if your team has been eliminated in 'College Football Eliminator 2016-17: Week 7'.
