What Each Remaining CFP Contender Needs to Happen for Their Playoff Hopes to Stay Alive

        Championship Friday/Saturday will be here this weekend, and with only seven realistic playoff contenders left, which teams will get one of the four spots, and what teams will be one of the unlucky three left out? Here is what each contender needs to happen for their playoff hopes to stay alive

Alabama- The Crimson Tide will cruise into the SEC Championship game with an undefeated record with impressive wins including at LSU by 29, an Iron Bowl blowout, and a shutout against Mississippi State. Alabama’s playoff spot is all but locked, and the only way they could miss the playoff is if they get blown out by UGA. Even if Alabama loses, a loss to Georgia would be respectable, and Alabama’s only loss. Expect to see Alabama in the playoff.

         Clemson- While the Tigers do have an undefeated record, and a roster loaded with talent, they are still not guaranteed a playoff spot. Due to Clemson’s weak conference, they have not picked up wins against strong competition like other contenders have, such as Oklahoma’s road win at West Virginia, or Alabamas road blowout at LSU. All Clemson has to do is beat Pitt in the ACC Championship, which should be an easy task, because the Panthers will go into this game 7-5 and without a rank. This is good and bad for Clemson because they get to play a bad team, but if they get upset, they will almost surely miss the playoffs, considering a loss to Pitt would be worse than most of the other 1 loss contender’s loses besides arguably Ohio State’s road loss to Purdue. In this case, Clemson would most likely miss the playoff due to their 1 loss being late in the season, and in a conference championship.

             Notre Dame- The Irish completed an undefeated season this past Saturday with their 24-17 win against USC. Notre Dame has played great competition, and has great wins against Michigan, at Northwestern, and a blow out win against, at the time, 12th ranked Syracuse. Notre Dame will be in the Playoff.

         Georgia- The Bulldog’s path to the playoff is straightforward, but also extremely challenging. If Georgia beats Alabama, they would be a one-loss conference champion with a respectable road loss at LSU, but they would also have a win against the best team in college football which would undoubtably put them in the playoff. However, if the Dawgs lose, unless OU and OSU lose too and join them as a two-loss team without a conference championship, Georgia will miss the playoff. If UGA wins, they’re in.

     Oklahoma- Since a losing a heartbreaker 48-45 to their arch rival, and at the time, 17th ranked Texas, the Sooners have not lost and are looking forward to their rematch against the Longhorns this Saturday, in the Big 12 Championship. Oklahoma, led by Kyler Murray, has the #1 ranked offense in the country, but also the statistically 87th best defense in the country. A win against Texas would avenge the loss they suffered to the Longhorns earlier in the season, but if Ohio State’s defense shows up in their conference championship, and Oklahoma’s does not, there is a good chance they will miss the playoff regardless of beating UT. Other than winning, Oklahoma’s defense has to prove themselves to create separation between themselves, and Ohio State, for the Sooners to have a probable shot at the playoff. However, if the Buckeyes lose, and the Sooners win, Oklahoma should receive a playoff spot, even if the defense plays poorly, considering OSU is their only real competition.

         Ohio State- If the Buckeyes want to make the playoff, it will most likely depend on the score of the Big 12 championship. If Oklahoma wins by a large margin, OSU will most likely miss the playoff, considering the Sooners will have beaten a good team and avenged their narrow loss. Unlike OU, the Buckeyes cannot avenge their embarrassing 29 point loss to 6-6 Purdue, putting them at a disadvantage when compared to a hypothetical 12-1 Oklahoma team beating Texas. If the Sooners lose, Ohio State will be in, but if the Sooners win, the only realistic way the Buckeyes would get in over them is if the Oklahoma defense plays awfully, as usual, and OSU dominates Northwestern. 

          UCF- Before the devastating season-ending leg injury, suffered by starting quarterback Mckenzie Milton, UCF had slim, but existing playoff hopes. Now led by a backup freshman QB, the only possible way for the Knights to make the playoff is if they Blowout Memphis to win the AAC, and every top 10 contender besides Alabama loses. Even if this insane scenario happened, they would most likely still miss the playoff due to their weak schedule, and injured QB. UCF is undefeated, but even with a win against Memphis, their odds to make the playoff are mathmatically, <1%.

PICTURE CREDITS- PennLive.com