Ohio State, LSU, and Clemson, all undefeated, own the top 3 spots in College Football. If they win their championshp games, their places in the College Football Playoff are asure.
Ohio State and LSU have been so dominant this season that it's possible the Playoff Committee will keep one or both of them in the playoff even if they lose. Personally, I'd disagree with that decision; I believe the championship games should be "must win" to enter the playoffs. That would mean the LSU-Georgia SEC Championship game should be a de facto quarterfinal.
I also oppose inviting a 2-loss team to the playoffs if there are at least four undefeated and one-loss teams to choose from. So if 10-2 Wisconsin beats Ohio State, I'd be hard-pressed to give them a chance. I'd choose a one-loss non-Power 5 school over the Badgers.
That's a difference between my approach and the Playoff Committee's. It's tasked with inviting the four "best" teams, whereas I'd prefer choosing teams that earned it by winning the most games and losing the fewest.
Here are how the 1-loss teams are positions today:
1. Georgia. Slightly ahead of Utah in my system, and the #4 team in the nation right now. I'd view its game with LSU as a national quarterfinal. Whoever wins, gets in. That leaves an opportunity for...
2. Utah. If the Utes beat 10-2 Oregon for the Pac-12 Championship, they'd elevate to the fourth position because the SEC Championship would remove one of the top four teams.
3. Boise State.
4. Oklahoma.
5. Memphis
6. Baylor
In my ranking system, Boise State is just slightly ahead of Oklahoma, but that changes if they both win their conference championship games; The Sooners would likely get the nod on strength of schedule because they face 11-1 Baylor and the Broncos play 8-4 Hawaii. Memphis is also in the mix (based on my ratings and judgement of who's deserving) as they face a 10-2 Cincinnati team. Baylor lags a bit, because their regular season was as strong as the others, but could get in by soundly beating Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game and Utah, Clemson, or Ohio State loses.
7. Appalachian State 15.17
The Mountaineers farther behind the other one-loss teams. Ohio State, Clemson, Utah, and Boise State and/or Memphis would all have to lose their championship games. If that happens, then the season is so crazy, why not give them a shot in the playoffs?
Ohio State and LSU have been so dominant this season that it's possible the Playoff Committee will keep one or both of them in the playoff even if they lose. Personally, I'd disagree with that decision; I believe the championship games should be "must win" to enter the playoffs. That would mean the LSU-Georgia SEC Championship game should be a de facto quarterfinal.
I also oppose inviting a 2-loss team to the playoffs if there are at least four undefeated and one-loss teams to choose from. So if 10-2 Wisconsin beats Ohio State, I'd be hard-pressed to give them a chance. I'd choose a one-loss non-Power 5 school over the Badgers.
That's a difference between my approach and the Playoff Committee's. It's tasked with inviting the four "best" teams, whereas I'd prefer choosing teams that earned it by winning the most games and losing the fewest.
Here are how the 1-loss teams are positions today:
1. Georgia. Slightly ahead of Utah in my system, and the #4 team in the nation right now. I'd view its game with LSU as a national quarterfinal. Whoever wins, gets in. That leaves an opportunity for...
2. Utah. If the Utes beat 10-2 Oregon for the Pac-12 Championship, they'd elevate to the fourth position because the SEC Championship would remove one of the top four teams.
3. Boise State.
4. Oklahoma.
5. Memphis
6. Baylor
In my ranking system, Boise State is just slightly ahead of Oklahoma, but that changes if they both win their conference championship games; The Sooners would likely get the nod on strength of schedule because they face 11-1 Baylor and the Broncos play 8-4 Hawaii. Memphis is also in the mix (based on my ratings and judgement of who's deserving) as they face a 10-2 Cincinnati team. Baylor lags a bit, because their regular season was as strong as the others, but could get in by soundly beating Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game and Utah, Clemson, or Ohio State loses.
7. Appalachian State 15.17
The Mountaineers farther behind the other one-loss teams. Ohio State, Clemson, Utah, and Boise State and/or Memphis would all have to lose their championship games. If that happens, then the season is so crazy, why not give them a shot in the playoffs?
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