USA TODAY International Edition
Road ahead favors Wisconsin, Southern Cal
Week 7 brought chaos to college football, with three unbeatens losing to cut the list of undefeated Power Five contenders to Alabama, Georgia, Miami (Fla.), Penn State, Wisconsin and TCU.
But all isn’t lost for the recent losers. For the one-loss teams in the Power Five, all it will take to reach the College Football Playoff is a clean sweep from this point out — much like last year’s Clemson, which lost to Pittsburgh in the regular season but lifted the crystal football in January.
Twenty one-loss or unbeaten teams are still active in the Power Five. Someone has to lose. This week’s top 10 list asks: Which of these 20 faces the easiest schedule the rest of the way? 1. NO. 5 WISCONSIN (6-0)
Toughest games left: vs. Iowa, vs. Michigan
The Badgers’ easy schedule has been discussed since August. Now that it’s October and Wisconsin sits at 6-0 and No. 5 in the Amway Coaches Poll, it’s easy to see this team roll through the regular season and notch wins at home against the Hawkeyes and Wolverines to head into the Big Ten title game 12-0.
2. NO. 10 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (6-1)
Toughest games left: at Notre
Dame, vs. Arizona
The Trojans’ biggest test comes in Saturday’s road trip to Notre Dame. A win there, however, would set USC at 7-1 heading into the final stretch of games against Arizona State, Arizona, Colorado and UCLA. 3. NO. 3 GEORGIA (7-0)
Toughest games left: at Auburn, at Georgia Tech
The rivalry game with Florida on Oct. 28 is bound to get interesting, but Georgia’s toughest matchups come on the road: at Auburn on Nov. 11 and at Georgia Tech to cap the regular season Nov. 25. But this is the sort of schedule that should have fans dreaming of a matchup with unbeaten Alabama in early December to decide the Southeastern Conference championship.
4. NO. 8 CLEMSON (6-1)
Toughest games left: at North Carolina State, vs. Florida State
Each of the Tigers’ four remaining FBS opponents — Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Florida State and South Carolina — is headed to the postseason, so it won’t be the easiest road to a repeat. But Clemson does get an extra week for the Yellow Jackets, draws the Seminoles at home and gets a Football Championship Subdivision opponent one week before playing the Gamecocks. In other words, that matchup with the Wolfpack will be a big one. 5. NO. 1 ALABAMA (7-0) Toughest games left: vs. LSU, at Auburn
Based on how Alabama has looked through seven games, there’s no team left on the schedule that can unseat the Crimson Tide. But it’s not the easiest final month-plus until the postseason. Besides hosting LSU, the Tide must handle two tough road trips, the first to Mississippi State on Nov. 11 and the second two weeks later at Auburn for the Iron Bowl. 6. NO. 4 TCU (6-0)
Toughest games left: at Oklahoma, at Texas Tech
TCU has beaten Oklahoma State and West Virginia, so the Horned Frogs’ second-half slate gives them a leg up on the Cowboys and Oklahoma in the race for a Big 12 title. But you can’t ignore the fact that TCU’s crucial matchup with the Sooners comes on the road. 7. NO. 11 OKLAHOMA STATE (5-1)
Toughest games left: at West Virginia, vs. Oklahoma
It’s hard to see the Cowboys lose to one of Texas, Iowa State, Kansas State or Kansas, so the year comes down to those two games above: at WVU on the final Saturday of October and OU a weekend later. Getting the Sooners at home means the Cowboys are a real threat to make the Big 12 title game.
8. NO. 7 MIAMI (5-0)
Toughest games left: vs. Virginia
Tech, vs. Notre Dame
Miami has managed to escape Florida State and Georgia Tech in the last two weeks, which does reflect well on Mark Richt and the Hurricanes. But it’s going to get tougher from here. The good news? Those two games that will decide Miami’s season — against Notre Dame and in the Coastal Division decider against Virginia Tech — come at home. 9. NO. 14 VIRGINIA TECH (5-1)
Toughest games left: at Miami, at Georgia Tech
Justin Fuente’s team does get three very winnable games at home: North Carolina on Saturday, Duke on Oct. 28 and Pittsburgh on Nov. 18. But the toughest games of the second half come on the road, against Miami, Georgia Tech and Virginia, so it’s hard to imagine the Hokies sticking at one loss. 10. NO. 19 MICHIGAN STATE (5-1)
Toughest games left: vs. Penn State, at Ohio State
There are no easy schedules left in the Big Ten East Division, which brings one unbeaten team and three one-loss teams into Saturday’s action. But unlike the other three contenders, Michigan State has just two games remaining against ranked foes — having already played and defeated Michigan. The Wolverines, Nittany Lions and Buckeyes have three games yet to play against teams ranked in this week’s Amway Coaches Poll.