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Author: Shaun Stack
The top-four teams in the NCAAF rankings are just one win away from finishing their perfect regular seasons. A win in their respective conference championship games would likely secure them a spot in the College Football Playoffs, too.
Securing betting sites are full of great betting options for this year’s CFP. However, the field is not set in stone, yet. At least four other teams in the top 10 have a realistic chance to make the playoffs this season.
Keep reading to see which teams can make a last-minute push to make the CFP. I will break down the latest news surrounding the top eight teams in the NCAAF and tell you what each team needs to do to make the postseason.
Current CFP Playoff Rankings
First and foremost, which teams would be in the CFP if the playoffs started today? The final rankings have not been revealed, but these four teams are currently at the top of the NCAAF rankings:
- Georgia Bulldogs (12-0)
- Michigan Wolverines (12-0)
- Washington Huskies (12-0)
- Florida State Seminoles (12-0)
All of the teams in the top four are currently undefeated and playing in their respective conference championship games. However, no team in the current rankings is unbeatable.
Georgia has remained unbeaten, but they have had several close calls this season. Michigan has been the subject of headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Wolverines will have to win the Big 10 Championship without their head coach if they want to make the CFP again this season.
Washington’s defense has improved lately, but its offense has taken a dive. Florida State lost starting QB and Heisman candidate Jordan Daniels for the season due to a leg injury.
Which CFP Teams Are Most Likely to Lose This Weekend?
All four teams currently in the line for the playoffs are undefeated. They will need to stay that way to guarantee a spot in the postseason. Two teams, Washington and Florida State, are the most at risk of being eliminated from playoff contention.
Can the Huskies Beat the Ducks Again?
Washington’s 36-33 win over Oregon was one of the best games of this season. However, the Huskies’ offense has struggled in some relatively easy games since then. For instance, they put up just 15 points against Arizona State the following week.
The Huskies have another chance to prove they are worthy of the playoffs with a rematch against the Ducks. If Washington wins again, there will be no doubt about which team is better this season.
Winning will be easier said than done, though. One of the biggest headlines heading into this rematch is that Oregon is a heavy favorite to avenge their loss from earlier this year.
A loss this weekend would likely knock the Huskies out of the CFP. They would still be 11-1, but Oregon would be the Pac-12 champions. As the conference champs, the Ducks would likely get the playoff spot over Washington.
Will Florida State Overcome Daniels’ Injury?
The other team people are watching closely this weekend is the Florida State Seminoles. After news of QB Jordan Davis’s season-ending leg injury broke, the Seminoles were knocked out of the top four. However, Florida State beat the Gators and kept their perfect season alive.
Now FSU is in the ACC Championship game against Louisville. Even without Davis, it would be hard to deny Florida State a spot in the playoffs if they win the ACC title.
Beating Louisville without Davis will be challenging, though. The Cardinals are currently ranked 15th and are 10-2 this season. Louisville is coming off a loss to unranked Kentucky, too, so they should be extra motivated for this matchup.
The committee already tried to remove the Seminoles from the CFP once this season. A loss to Louisville would be more than enough to cause FSU to fall out of the playoffs this season.
Will a 1-Loss Team Make the Playoffs?
If they win out, then the teams above will likely make the CFP. However, a loss in their conference title games could knock them out of the top four. If they do fall, one of the teams ranked five through eight could take their spot.
Here are the four one-loss teams most likely to make the CFP this season:
- #5 Oregon Ducks (11-1)
- #6 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1)
- #7 Texas Longhorns (11-1)
- #8 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1)
Oregon and Alabama have a chance to impact the CFP matchups this weekend directly. They will take on Washington and Georgia, respectively, in their conference championship games.
The Buckeyes and Longhorns, on the other hand, need help from other teams. Ohio State’s loss to Michigan in “The Game” knocked them out of the top four and the Big 10 title game. Texas likely needs at least two teams ahead of them to lose if they want to make the CFP this year.
Can Oregon Make the Playoff?
Oregon has the most clear-cut path to the CFP of any team currently outside of the top four. All the Ducks need to do is beat the Huskies in the Pac-12 Championship game.
If Oregon wins, they will knock Washington from the ranks of the unbeaten. It would also avenge the Ducks’ sole loss this season, which came against the Huskies in October. Despite losing the first matchup, Oregon is a heavy favorite in the rematch.
A big reason for American football oddsmakers favoring the Ducks is how each team has looked since their first matchup. Oregon has dominated headlines, in large part due to the play of QB Bo Nix.
Washington, on the other hand, has struggled lately. The Huskies’ offense has not looked the same, and QB Michael Penix Jr. has fallen in the Heisman odds as a result. Washington will have to find its footing on offense again if they want to sweep the Ducks this season.
Will Ohio State Make the Cut?
One of the most shocking headlines from last weekend was the Buckeyes' loss to the Wolverines. Ohio State had a chance to put their back-to-back losses to Michigan behind them. The Wolverines did not have their head coach, as Jim Harbaugh was suspended for stealing signs.
Ohio State had a chance to take advantage of Michigan’s misfortune. However, after losing 30-24, the headlines are now full of questions about coach Ryan Day’s future at the program.
The Buckeyes can put all of the bad news behind them if they can make the CFP. However, they need help from at least one of the teams in the top four.
If Washington wins, the Buckeyes will likely move ahead of the Ducks in the rankings. That, combined with a loss by one of the other three top teams, could be enough to put Ohio State in the playoffs.
Will Texas Make Its First CFP Appearance?
Another team that is looking for help this weekend is the Texas Longhorns. Texas looked to be on track for its first CFP appearance after the Longhorns beat Alabama. However, Texas came up short against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry game this season.
At 11-1, the Longhorns are still in position to make a playoff appearance. However, like Ohio State, they would need teams ahead of them to lose.
Specifically, I believe that Texas needs Alabama to beat Georgia in the SEC Championship. If the Longhorns win the Big 12 and Alabama wins the SEC, I think the committee would give the nod to Texas.
Texas has the head-to-head over the Crimson Tide. Also, unlike Ohio State and the loser of the Washington-Oregon rematch, the Longhorns would be a conference champion. A one-loss conference champ should get in over teams that are not conference champions.
How Alabama Can Still Make the CFP This Season
Last but not least, there is the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama’s sole loss this season came in the aforementioned game against the Texas Longhorns.
If the Tide wants to make the CFP this season, then they need to get past Georgia in the SEC title game. Even then, Alabama will need a lot of help to make the playoffs. As I mentioned above, the Longhorns could take Georgia’s spot if Alabama wins the SEC.
Alabama would likely need Texas to lose too. Alternatively, they would need Oregon and Michigan to lose for the Tide to sneak into the playoffs.
A Wolverines’ loss could open the door for Ohio State, but I think the committee would pick Alabama. The crimson Tide would be a conference champion and have the most impressive win of the year by taking down Georgia.
Who Do You Think Will Make the College Football Playoffs?
The NCAAF headlines this week are all focused on the conference championship games this weekend. Four title games feature playoff teams looking to cement their spots in the post season. Check out the list above to see what is at state this weekend in college football.