After a wild Rivalry Week, Conference Championships are this week. This is the chance for teams who might be on the bubble coming into this week trying to get in the College Football Playoff. There were several massive upsets that cost several teams a chance at the College Football Playoff. Miami lost to Syracuse, 42-38, which caused Miami to miss out on the ACC title game. Ohio State lost to Michigan, 13-10, causing Ohio State to miss out on the Big 10 Conference Title Game.
The landscape of College Football has changed dramatically because of the College Football Playoff expansion. Several teams that wouldn’t be in the College Football Playoff when it was a four team tournament are now able to be in the College Football Playoff.
Several new teams have risen to contender status as well. Here is a rundown of my list of teams who will make the college football playoff.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish won their season finale against the USC Trojans, 49-35. The Fighting Irish have completed a turn-around after losing to NIU earlier this year. The Irish should be in the College Football Playoff due to their record, which is 11-1. The Irish will be a team that no one will want to play in the College Football Playoff and are a dark horse to win the program’s first National Championship since 1988.
Oregon Ducks
The Ducks finished the season by winning their final game of the season against Washington, 49-21. The Ducks will travel to Indianapolis to play the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big 10 Championship Game. If Oregon wins, they will most likely be the #1 seed in the College Football Playoff. If the Ducks lose, they will most likely still make the College Football Playoff, and will probably play a first round game in Eugene, OR, making it the most significant event to happen in the city of Eugene . Either way, Oregon has more than deserved a spot in the College Football Playoff after finishing their regular season 12-0.
Texas Longhorns
Texas won against Texas A&M, beating the Aggies 17-7. Texas will travel to Atlanta, GA, to play the Georgia Bulldogs in Georgia’s backyard. Texas looked really good, especially on defense, giving up zero points to the Aggies offense (the only score by the Aggies was an interception returned for a touchdown). This will be a revenge game for the Longhorns, after losing to the Bulldogs earlier this season in College Station. If the Longhorns lose, it won’t be game over, as they will most likely host a first round game in Austin
SMU Mustangs
Talk about a redemption story! The Mustangs are back in the spotlight of the college football universe and are one win away from completing an improbable run. No one thought that the Mustangs would be College Football Playoff contenders, especially this deep into the season. The Mustangs will play the traditional ACC powerhouse of Clemson in the ACC Championship Game this Saturday in Charlotte. Win and you’re in. This may end up costing any other teams that could be bid stealers, such as Georgia and Miami, the opportunity to make the College Football Playoff.
Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions play Oregon in the Big 10 Championship Game this Saturday in Indy. The Nittany Lions come into the game a healthy 11-1, with their only loss being to the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus. The resume for the Nittany Lions is still impressive, as they have generally won their games this season by two or more scores. In the end, if the Nittany Lions miss out on the College Football Playoff should they lose on Saturday, the loss against the Buckeyes in the regular season would be the nail in the coffin as the next team would be likely to unseat them is Indiana.
Indiana Hoosiers
With Ohio State’s loss to Michigan, the Hoosiers are in position to make the College Football Playoff as an at-large team. The Hoosiers have completed a turnaround under Curt Cignetti, who has completely revitalized the program at a school more famous for its basketball. The Hoosiers went from winning only three games last season to winning 11 games this season. A College Football Playoff berth would cement Indiana’s arrival as a college football powerhouse. The Hoosiers didn’t make the Big 10 Championship Game and will have to rely on other results to make it into the College Football Playoff. However, the Hoosiers have lost only one game, and I honestly would be shocked if they missed the College Football Playoff.
Georgia Bulldogs
Kirby Smart has this team in a position to make the College Football Playoff with a victory on Saturday. Even if the Bulldogs lose, if they don’t get blown out in the SEC Championship Game, it will depend on whether the Bulldogs win against Texas in Austin is enough for the committee to determine whether the Bulldogs deserve to play for another National Championship. If they make the College Football Playoff, then the defense will be carrying this team, and if their offense can’t be at least mediocre, the Bulldogs might be in for a big surprise against any team.
Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee is in the conversation after Alabama blew away a game against Oklahoma two weeks ago. The Volunteers have a solid resume, with a solid win against Alabama. They did lose to Arkansas and Georgia, but they are a favorite to make the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes lost to the Michigan Wolverines last week, 13-10, missing the Big 10 Championship Game. The Buckeyes are included in this list due to their wins against Penn State and Indiana. The Buckeyes are likely College Football Playoff contenders despite losing the game to Michigan and missing the Big 10 Championship Game. The Buckeyes should get into the College Football Playoff due to these performances against those two teams.
Boise State Broncos
If Boise State wins the Mountain West Championship Game, they will be the first team from that conference to make the College Football Playoff. They are led by Heisman contender Ashton Jeanty, who has run for almost 2000 yards this season. Boise State has the starpower to beat anyone in college football.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State has emerged as the most likely contender from the Big 12 to make the College Football Playoff. The Sun Devils are not really known as a college football powerhouse, and whoever they play in the first round will likely crush them into nothing but dust. Credit to their coach Kenny Dillingham: he has built a program that has a bright future ahead of themselves.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama is a traditional powerhouse, led by First year coach Kalen Deboer. The Crimson Tide made it into this list due to its several wins against ranked opponents. The Crimson Tide are experienced and will be a dangerous team to play against in the College Football Playoff.
When do the first games start?
The First Round of the College Football Playoff begins on Dec. 20, and ends on Dec. 21. These games will have the the seeds ranked 5-12 play against each other at the college campuses of the higher seeded team. The Quarter Finals will be held at the sites of the major bowl games on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The teams that won their first round game will play the seeds ranked 1-4 at the sites of the major bowl games. The Semi Finals will be held at the sites of the Orange Bowl and the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 9 through the 10, and the National Championship Game will be held in Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
