Week 11 of College Football was chaotic as usual. There were several upsets, with Utah, LSU, Stanford and Baylor all losing. Those teams were all battling for a College Football Playoff berth, but their losses hurt their chances in a major way. Those upsets have greatly altered the CFP outlook. With that in mind, we've broken down how the CFP shapes up with only a few games left. Here is How Saturday's Upsets Have Simplified The College Football Playoff Outlook:
Win Out And In:
Big 10:
Iowa Hawkeyes & Ohio State Buckeyes
The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes are both undefeated and the CFP committee won't deny an undefeated Big 10 team.
Big 12:
If the Cowboys go undefeated, they'll make the playoff.
SEC:
Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida Gators
The SEC's playoff hopes hinge on Florida and Alabama. If either team wins out, they'll be in. The committee won't reject a one-loss SEC champion.
ACC:
Clemson is the committee's No. 1 team, so all they need to do is win out.
Pac-12:
None.
Non-Power 5:
None.
The committee won't turn away a one-loss
Need Some Help:
Big 10:
Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans are nearly a win out and in team, but they'd need a bit of help to ensure they get in. The best case for Michigan State is that Notre Dame drops a game and the Big 12 beats up on each and no one from that conference gets in. For Michigan, they need the same scenario as Michigan State, plus OSU beating Michigan State. Stanford losing to Oregon helped Michigan in a big way.
Big 12:
Oklahoma Sooners, Baylor Bears & TCU Horned Frogs
The Sooners have the best chance of all the one-loss Big 12 teams. A loss to Texas hurts, but if they win out, their resume will be the best in the Big 12. They need Notre Dame to lose and maybe get some help from the Big 10. Baylor and TCU are unlikely to make the playoff, but they aren't totally eliminated yet. However, they need a lot of help. Notre Dame needs to lose and the Big Ten needs to beat up on each other for TCU and Baylor to make it.
SEC:
None. LSU's loss means they won't be heading to the playoff this season.
ACC:
The Tar Heels are a long shot, but they still have a chance. They'd need Notre Dame to lose and get some extra help from the Big 12 and Big Ten. But if they win out and beat Clemson, the Tar Heels at least have an argument.
Pac-12:
None.
The Stanford Cardinal and Utah Utes losing means their chances are essentially gone. There's a way one of them could still get in, but it would require an absurd amount of upsets in the coming weeks.
Non-Power 5:
Notre Dame Fighting Irish & Houston Cougars
Notre Dame has the best chance of the teams that aren't "win and in." They just need the Cowboys to lose a game and if they win out, they are in. A win over Stanford doesn't mean as much now that the Cardinal lost, but a one-loss ND team will get in over a one-loss non-SEC champion. Houston is undefeated, but need to win out and have several upsets occur. The Cougars need Notre Dame to lose and for the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 conference champions to have at least two losses.
Back to the NCAA Newsfeed