The College Football Playoff scenarios are coming more into focus as we enter the final week of the regular season. Week 13 showed us that defense still wins championships in college football and that there are some teams that you just can’t lose to…
Winners
Florida. The Gators (rightfully so) took a ton of flack for cancelling its game against LSU back in October due to the emergence of Hurricane Matthew. With a division title on the line, Florida stopped running back Derrius Guice short of the goal line on the final play of the game, crushing the hopes and dreams of delusional Tennessee fans everywhere.
Oklahoma State. The Cowboys, inexplicably, were underdogs heading into Fort Worth and responded by pounding the Horned Frogs 31-6. If they are able to beat Oklahoma next week they will win the Big XII, although if the title game was in place this season, they would oddly re-match the Sooners in Dallas the following week regardless of outcome. Gotta love the Big 12.
Colorado. This team has flown under the radar all season but the Buffaloes are now in the Top-10 following an impressive home win over surging Washington State. If they can beat Utah this week, they will represent the Pac-12 South in the championship game against Washington or Washington State.
Oklahoma. After starting 1-2, the Sooners have now reeled off eight straight wins including an impressive 56-28 beat down at West Virginia Saturday night. If Oklahoma is able to knock off Oklahoma State in a rivalry game this week, their playoff hopes will stay alive.
The Big 10. The championship race may be pure chaos but both Michigan and Ohio State narrowly escaped with wins over subpar opponents while Penn State and Wisconsin both won going away. Clearly, the winner of Ohio State and Michigan will be in good shape for a playoff spot, but Penn State could find itself in the Big 10 Championship game if it beats Michigan State.
Losers
Texas. Well we’ve learned that losing to a basketball school that hasn’t won a conference game in two years will cause you to seek employment elsewhere. Texas fell in overtime to the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday and Charlie Strong’s hot seat finally blew up. The fact that he was even allowed to fly home with the team is unbelievable, but Texas should be in great shape to hire a much more suitable replacement.
Rutgers. How is this team in a Power-5 conference again? Let this sink in for a moment: In four losses to Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State, the Scarlet Knights lost these games a combined 224-0. There is almost no measure for this amount of futility.
Louisville. Many of us screamed from the heavens that the Cardinals had to have a playoff spot and Lamar Jackson would win the Heisman without even a second thought. Not so fast! The Cardinals were beaten soundly by an (almost) forgotten Houston team ending any and all chances of Louisville’s playoff hopes. Jackson can still win the Heisman but, really, only by default at this point.
Tennessee fans. Sure, they blew out Missouri despite giving up 743 yards of offense, but Vol fans were not exactly pumped for this game as Neyland Stadium was only about 3/4 full for senior night. The ones that did show up quickly found out that Florida had won the SEC East forcing most patrons to sit in their seats sulking for the duration of the contest.
Baylor. Home favorites against Kansas State, the Bears proceeded to sleepwalk through another football game in route to a 42-21 loss. Are we witnessing a program heading off the rails at this point? It’s unlikely Baylor will recover on or off the field from the recent disasters that have taken place there.
