Who Still Has a Chance? A Look At the Remaining CFP Contenders
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
It's crazy to think college football only has a few weeks left. Over the course of the season, the scenery in college football has changed quite a bit. Teams like Notre Dame and Michigan State were projected to be in the playoff and now have losing records. Others like West Virginia and Colorado have surprised college football by moving to the top of their conferences. The one constant is, well, Alabama. If that surprises you, then you don't know college football. Nick Saban has kept his team in the elite category, and it will be difficult to find a team that can beat them this year. With little time left, let's take a look at each conference to see who still has a chance to make the College Football Playoff.
AAC: None. Houston had the best opportunity, but now they may not even win the conference. South Florida and Navy lead the two divisions, but that can change quickly.
ACC: Clemson and Louisville. Louisville, thankfully didn't jump Clemson in the committee's rankings, but they're slip against Houston last night may have cost them. I say this every year, but eight teams are necessary for the playoff. If a #5 Louisville team is left out, just think about what the college football world is missing. You're telling me you wouldn't want to watch Lamar Jackson take on Alabama's defense? That is primetime television and there isn't another player that could keep Nick Saban up at night more than Jackson.
Big 12: Oklahoma with West Virginia and Oklahoma State as long shots. This is the first conference that may get left out of the playoff. Still, Oklahoma would be another team that could end up in the top eight that you would love to see if there were eight teams in the playoff. WVU and Oklahoma State need a lot of help, but all it would take is a little more chaos for that to happen.
Big Ten: Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Penn State is in prime position, and just needs Ohio State to beat Michigan to play for the Big Ten championship. Will that be enough to get them in the playoff? Probably not, but the Big Ten is looking like the top conference to get two teams in the playoff. Wisconsin lost its two toughest games this year, but they would be extremely difficult to beat twice.
Conference USA: None. But hey, at least there could be a Western Kentucky-Louisiana Tech rematch a.k.a. the first to score 70 points wins. This conference is the Big 12's little brother: lots of offense, and optional defense.
Independents: None. Notre Dame and BYU were done early. Now, all I want is for Army to beat Navy, although that's looking a lot more difficult than originally expected.
MAC: None. Western Michigan is undefeated, but hasn't budged in the rankings simply due to their weakness in scheduling. This conference will always have it rough when it comes to gaining national respect, but should the Broncos make a New Years bowl game, they have a chance to represent and show that the MAC can play football.
Mountain West: None. Honestly though, there aren't many Power 5 teams that would want to play San Diego State or Boise State at this point. That alone gives them the respect they deserve. They also are way better than a chunk of Power 5 teams such as Kansas, Iowa State, Illinois, Purdue, Virginia and Arizona.
Pac 12: Washington, Colorado, Utah and USC. Everyone needs a lot of help except Washington, but even they need a little help. Again, if Washington finishes #6, it would be tough to argue they couldn't compete in the playoff especially this year in college football.
SEC: Alabama. Yes, Florida could be in here, but the Gators will have at least three losses by the end of the year. One may come this week against LSU and even if it doesn't, one is definitely coming when they lose to the Tide in the conference championship game. Seriously though, is anyone as good as Bama? You would be hard pressed to prove there is one.
Sun Belt: None. No surprise here, even with 8-1 Troy. But didn't Troy almost beat Clemson? Yes they did, but that was early on, and teams would have a longer time to scout the Trojans and put together schemes to crush them. Troy is still a tough win, though, and whoever draws them in the bowl game better come prepared.
GROUP OF 5 TOP 4
TPO TOP 4
GOPHERS UPDATE
RECORD: 7-3
LAST WEEK: L, 24-17 @ Nebraska
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: Northwestern
OPPONENT RECORD: 5-5
SITE: TCF Bank Stadium
OUTLOOK: Gopher-ish. What I mean by that is I wouldn't be surprised with the result either way. Minnesota is more than capable of beating the Wildcats, but Northwestern is a tough win every year. Pat Fitzgerald gets the most out of players who aren't the most talented, and is one of the most respected coaches in college football. Playing at home should help the Gophers, and while they are still in the race to win the West, they need some help (mostly for Nebraska to lose). They can't get caught looking ahead to next week's matchup with Wisconsin, because this week is just as difficult.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
OVERALL: 69-37 SEASON: 33-13 LAST WEEK: 2-2
