Only days remain until the College Football Playoff Committee releases the names of the four teams who will continue to compete for a National Championship. As conference championship games begin, there are seven teams who have a case to make as to why they should be considered. For fans of each team there is a rooting interest in this weekend, whether it is for your team or against another. Any way the games play out, there will be both nervous and excited fans at noon on Sunday, when the semi-finals are released.
Let’s break down how each team will get in:
Notre Dame: Due to the fact they are an independent and not a part of any conference, Notre Dame will be the only team on this list who will not be playing this weekend. The Fighting Irish wrapped up a perfect 12-0 season on Saturday night when they defeated USC 24-17. This means Notre Dame has an excellent chance to get into the playoffs. Wins over ranked teams such as Michigan, Northwestern and Syracuse, combined with the fact that they were ranked third in the committee’s most recent rankings leads many to believe they have already secured their spot. While one-loss teams like Oklahoma and Ohio State will try to point to the fact they didn’t face as tough a schedule and won games by very close margins; it would be a great injustice if the undefeated Fighting Irish were left out.
Clemson: The second-ranked Clemson Tigers are also undefeated, finishing 12-0 after a resounding 56-35 victory over rival South Carolina on Saturday. Clemson will face Pittsburgh this Saturday in the ACC Championship Game. A win over Pitt would lock up a playoff spot with no debate. Clemson has been one of the best teams all season long and seems to be peaking at the right time. They also have the easiest matchup this weekend, a 26.5 favorite over Pitt has them looking a playoff spot right in the eyes. However on the other hand, a loss this weekend to the 7-5 Panthers would all but end Clemson’s chances. In a bit of a down year for the ACC, a loss now would doom the Tigers and they would likely be overtaken by one of the one loss teams behind them.
Alabama: The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide have been the very best team all season. They as well are 12-0 and have absolutely hammered their competition with their closest game being a 22 point win over Texas A&M. They are the only undefeated team in the best conference in the country. However that means they will play in the toughest conference championship game when they meet Georgia in the SEC Championship. A win by Alabama would assure them not only of a playoff spot but also the number one seed and the choice of venues between Dallas and Miami for the semifinals. A case can be made that even with a loss the Tide would still make the playoffs as they won the National Championship without being SEC champions last season. However the formula is simple for Alabama, win and you’re in, lose and you sweat it out on Sunday.
Georgia: The Georgia Bulldogs have the clearest path to the playoffs compared to all other teams. The Bulldogs who finished 11-1 are playing their best football of the season at the right time and are coming off a recent stretch of three straight wins over top 25 teams. A win over Alabama on Saturday would absolutely seal a playoff spot for the Bulldogs. They could relax on Sunday and wait to see who they would play in the semifinals. A loss to Alabama would give them their second loss of the season and end any chance of making the playoffs whatsoever. The Bulldogs are a 13 point underdog on Saturday but they know the deal, it’s now or never for Georgia, no more second chances.
Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Sooners finished off an 11-1 season with a thrilling 59-56 win at West Virginia last Friday night. The one loss Oklahoma suffered this season came at the hands of the Texas Longhorns back in the first week of October. They will have a chance to avenge that loss on Saturday in the Big 12 Championship Game when they meet the Longhorns again. With a win they would be able to say they beat every team they played against during the season. Their loss also came by only a field goal, unlike Ohio State who lost to Purdue by 29 points. The best case scenario for Oklahoma is to win, and have Ohio State lose. If both teams win, there will likely be a heated debate between the two for the fourth and final spot.
Ohio State: Ohio State seems to be in this position each and every season, needing a win and some help on conference championship weekend to get into the playoffs. The Buckeyes are coming off their best win of the season when they beat Michigan 62-39. They will play Northwestern in the Big 10 Championship Game on Saturday night. There will be no bigger Texas fans on Saturday afternoon than the folks in Columbus, Ohio. A loss by Oklahoma coupled with an Ohio State win would give the Buckeyes the best chance to make the playoffs. If they beat Northwestern and still fail to get in, they have nobody to blame but themselves, after an embarrassing loss by 29 to a 6-6 Purdue team.
Central Florida: Most college football fans know that UCF has as a slim to no chance to actually make the playoffs. However the Knights did just complete their second consecutive undefeated regular season. Being from the American Athletic Conference gives them a much weaker schedule than any other teams listed. Losing their star quarterback, McKenzie Milton, to a horrifying knee injury in their win on Friday will not help their case. With all that said, if they beat Memphis in the AAC Championship Game and Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Georgia all lose… UCF might get in. Might.
