College playoff rankings Tuesday
Early look at likely to unexpected scenarios
Projecting the College Football Playoff field is only slightly easier today than it was in August. At least the options have been trimmed, from the entire breadth of the Football Bowl Subdivision — that’s the idea, in theory — to a select handful of college football’s best.
It’s still too early to say that any team has a national semifinal in its grasp, and yes, that includes Alabama. November will be telling: Starting with the Crimson Tide’s matchup with LSU on Saturday, the season’s final month will decide which four teams will reach the national semifinals.
What will happen in November is anyone’s guess. The scenarios that might unfold range from the likely through the possible through the unpredictable.
Recent history tells us to prepare for the unexpected. With the initial Playoff rankings set for release Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), here’s how the race might play out.
Likely
Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame win out, locking in the top three and leaving the fourth spot open to a Power Five conference champion.
Scenario No. 1: Alabama. Clemson, Notre Dame and Michigan
Scenario No. 2: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Ohio State
Scenario No. 3: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Oklahoma
Scenario No. 4: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Washington State
The first two scenarios hinge on the regular-season finale between the two Big Ten rivals and the ensuing conference title game, which would pit one of the Wolverines or Buckeyes against the winner of the West Division. As of now, that looks like Northwestern.
Oklahoma would need help, specifically from a Big Ten team currently holding two or more losses. But one misstep from Ohio State or Michigan in November — a Ohio State loss to Michigan State or a Michigan loss to Penn State, for example — would create a scenario where the Big Ten puts forth a two-loss champion, and a one-loss Sooners team would then hold the edge.
Washington State would need to run the table and have the winners of the Big Ten and Big 12 enter the postseason with at least two losses. Not as likely as the first three scenarios, maybe, but still likely enough to be a realistic scenario. Conference championships matter to the selection committee, even one that would come from the weakest of the Power Five leagues.
Possible
The first upset to the system would be if Notre Dame loses to one of Northwestern, Florida State, Syracuse or Southern California, which would widen the field to include an additional Power Five conference champion. Even then, Notre Dame wouldn’t be officially eliminated — all the Irish would need is a loss by Washington State or one of Ohio State and Michigan on the way to a conference title.
Scenario No. 1: Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Oklahoma
Scenario No. 2: Alabama. Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma
Scenario No. 3: Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Washington State
Scenario No. 4: Alabama. Clemson, Oklahoma and Washington State
Alabama could lose once and still reach the semifinals, as illustrated a season ago. That would create another scenario seen this past January: two Southeastern Conference teams in the field. The SEC teams in question would be dictated by when the Tide lose, whether it’s in November to LSU or in early December to the winner of the SEC East Division.
Scenario No. 1: Clemson, Notre Dame, LSU and Alabama
Scenario No. 2: Clemson, Notre Dame, Georgia and Alabama
Scenario No. 3: Clemson, Michigan, Kentucky and Alabama
Scenario No. 4: Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma and Alabama
Unpredictable
Alabama is out of the picture. Kentucky has won the SEC. Notre Dame has lost twice. Oklahoma wins out but loses to Texas in the Big 12 championship game. Ohio State beats Michigan but loses the Big Ten title to Northwestern. Central Florida continues to win and caps the regular season at 13-0 and atop the American Athletic Conference.
Scenario No. 1: Clemson, Kentucky, Washington State and UCF