The Florida Gators have already won the SEC East, giving themselves a prime chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff if they win the three games remaining on their schedule. However, Florida ranks just eighth in the playoff rankings with just two weeks remaining in the regular season, which is not ideal this late in the year. What does that mean for their playoff hopes?
It means they don't control their own destiny - they need help. Four of five teams in front of them - Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Iowa, and Ohio State - all figure to play each other this season (OU-OKST on Nov. 28, Iowa-OSU in potential Big Ten title game), which will drop two of the teams in front of them out of the picture.
Unfortunately, that leaves two of those teams, along with Notre Dame, standing in the way.
First off, Florida absolutely needs to beat Alabama in the SEC title game, giving them a HUGE boost their resume, a strong case to be in as the SEC champ, and remove another one of the teams in front of them.
Unfortunately for the Gators, that may not be enough. Clemson and Ohio State probably aren't going anywhere, and neither is Notre Dame, who are all currently in the top four. That leaves one spot left for Florida and a potentially undefeated Oklahoma State team, who would be a lock to make it.
That would be an absolute disaster for Florida and the SEC, and it has a real chance of happening.
Now, if Oklahoma wins the Big 12 over Oklahoma State, Florida could get get the nod over the Sooners by winning a conference title game - much like we saw with Ohio State jumping TCU last year. Of course, Notre Dame could also lose to Stanford, which would put both Florida and the Big 12 champion in.
Aside from having some top five teams fall victim to the upset bug over the past two weeks, that might be the only way Florida makes the playoff. The Gators definitely need a few breaks to fall their way, but it's a scenario that could definitely happen.
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