Let's take a serious look at some playoff possibilities as they stand now. Obviously the team most likely to make the playoffs is Ohio State. They have a very easy schedule with their biggest potential challengers (Michigan State and Penn State) playing in Columbus. They duck all of the good teams in the West with crossovers at home against Minnesota and at Illinois. Ohio State is a no brainer.
Now here is where it gets interesting. Let's stay in the Big 10. Michigan State is the only other team given much of a chance to make the playoffs, and they do not have to win the CC to do so. How, you might ask? Simple. If MSU ends up at 11-1, and their only loss is to Ohio State, they are going to get serious consideration, especially over teams with two losses. For MSU to do this, they must defeat Oregon at home, and Nebraska on the road. Remember they defeated Baylor last season in the Cotton Bowl. That is going to help MSU. The only other Big 10 team with a sniff is Wisconsin, but they would have to defeat Alabama in their season opener.
The Pac 10 is a real mess. An Oregon loss to Michigan State would be devastating to the team, who still must play games at Washington, Arizona State and Stanford, plus a home game against USC the week after the Stanford game. They also must win the CC game, which could be against USC again, or either Arizona team, or UCLA. As far as the South is concerned, USC must win at South Bend, against an Irish team that they killed last season in L.A. Add on the Oregon game and the very tough Pac 12 South, and we are looking at a very uphill battle. Arizona State opens against Texas A&M. UCLA and Arizona do not have top quality non-con opponents, but still must get through the Pac 12 South and the CC game. There is a real possibility that no Pac 12 teams makes the Playoff.
Another Conference with a real possibility of not being represented in the Playoffs is the SEC. First you have the Alabama-Auburn-Georgia series in which it is quite possible for any one of those three teams to lose two games. worst case scenario is a 1-1 split. Everyone gets a loss. Georgia also goes to Tennessee the week after the Alabama game and ends the season against GA. Tech. Auburn opens against Louisville and goes to both LSU and A&M. They probably have the best shot at winning it all in the SEC and going to the Playoffs. Alabama opens against Wisconsin (neutral site) and goes to Georgia, A&M and Auburn. Much like the Pac 12, there certainly is a big chance that the SEC Champ will have two losses.
The ACC will have a few competitive teams, but it is still hard to see how they get around Florida State. FSU has to rebuild their offense, but will have a solid Defense. They have two tough away games, at GA. Tech and Clemson. A split in those two games, plus season ending wins at Florida and in the ACC Conference Championship game probably lands them back into the playoffs again with just one loss. Both Clemson and Georgia Tech have outside chances of winning the ACC, but their schedules are probably too tough to allow that to happen. Both play Notre Dame.
The Big 12 is the Big problem child. They still refuse to play a CC game, and apparently refuse to understand how easily they can get shafted, just like they did last season. To add fuel to the fire, the team that was picked over their Champion Baylor was Ohio State, who rand the table. Baylor also blew a huge lead and lost to Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. Obviously no Biog 12 team has a chance with two losses. Baylor may not have a chance with one loss. Their schedule is something you buy at your local sweets store. Lots of Cream Puffs. They also can fall apart easily a the end of the season, getting Oklahoma at home, followed by away games at Oklahoma State and TCU. TCU at least goes to Minnesota, so their chances of going to the playoffs are much better than Baylor's. The question is simple. Was last year a fluke for TCU?
There are many interesting question and possibilities, including the real possibility that the two best conferences (Pac 12 and SEC, pick your order) both get shut out. If that happens, look for an 8 game playoff starting in 2017, after the first round of the current system is finished.It is certainly possible that the Big 10 gets two teams into the playoffs. This season, more than ever, every loss is a killer.
Now here is where it gets interesting. Let's stay in the Big 10. Michigan State is the only other team given much of a chance to make the playoffs, and they do not have to win the CC to do so. How, you might ask? Simple. If MSU ends up at 11-1, and their only loss is to Ohio State, they are going to get serious consideration, especially over teams with two losses. For MSU to do this, they must defeat Oregon at home, and Nebraska on the road. Remember they defeated Baylor last season in the Cotton Bowl. That is going to help MSU. The only other Big 10 team with a sniff is Wisconsin, but they would have to defeat Alabama in their season opener.
The Pac 10 is a real mess. An Oregon loss to Michigan State would be devastating to the team, who still must play games at Washington, Arizona State and Stanford, plus a home game against USC the week after the Stanford game. They also must win the CC game, which could be against USC again, or either Arizona team, or UCLA. As far as the South is concerned, USC must win at South Bend, against an Irish team that they killed last season in L.A. Add on the Oregon game and the very tough Pac 12 South, and we are looking at a very uphill battle. Arizona State opens against Texas A&M. UCLA and Arizona do not have top quality non-con opponents, but still must get through the Pac 12 South and the CC game. There is a real possibility that no Pac 12 teams makes the Playoff.
Another Conference with a real possibility of not being represented in the Playoffs is the SEC. First you have the Alabama-Auburn-Georgia series in which it is quite possible for any one of those three teams to lose two games. worst case scenario is a 1-1 split. Everyone gets a loss. Georgia also goes to Tennessee the week after the Alabama game and ends the season against GA. Tech. Auburn opens against Louisville and goes to both LSU and A&M. They probably have the best shot at winning it all in the SEC and going to the Playoffs. Alabama opens against Wisconsin (neutral site) and goes to Georgia, A&M and Auburn. Much like the Pac 12, there certainly is a big chance that the SEC Champ will have two losses.
The ACC will have a few competitive teams, but it is still hard to see how they get around Florida State. FSU has to rebuild their offense, but will have a solid Defense. They have two tough away games, at GA. Tech and Clemson. A split in those two games, plus season ending wins at Florida and in the ACC Conference Championship game probably lands them back into the playoffs again with just one loss. Both Clemson and Georgia Tech have outside chances of winning the ACC, but their schedules are probably too tough to allow that to happen. Both play Notre Dame.
The Big 12 is the Big problem child. They still refuse to play a CC game, and apparently refuse to understand how easily they can get shafted, just like they did last season. To add fuel to the fire, the team that was picked over their Champion Baylor was Ohio State, who rand the table. Baylor also blew a huge lead and lost to Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. Obviously no Biog 12 team has a chance with two losses. Baylor may not have a chance with one loss. Their schedule is something you buy at your local sweets store. Lots of Cream Puffs. They also can fall apart easily a the end of the season, getting Oklahoma at home, followed by away games at Oklahoma State and TCU. TCU at least goes to Minnesota, so their chances of going to the playoffs are much better than Baylor's. The question is simple. Was last year a fluke for TCU?
There are many interesting question and possibilities, including the real possibility that the two best conferences (Pac 12 and SEC, pick your order) both get shut out. If that happens, look for an 8 game playoff starting in 2017, after the first round of the current system is finished.It is certainly possible that the Big 10 gets two teams into the playoffs. This season, more than ever, every loss is a killer.
