After demolishing Rutgers its fair to say the playoffs are back on the menu boys. Its also far enough into the season where 1000 hypotheticals don't exist. So here is how the playoff race is shaping up:
Ohio State's resume(and rooting interests)
- Regardless of what happens to Oregon the rest of the way that remains a respectable loss unlike Purdue/Iowa in previous years. Of 1 loss teams OSU should be right at the top. There is the potential for 4 ranked wins in total with 2 very highly ranked wins in PSU/Iowa
- PSU is likely going to be the best win of the regular season, wins over Wisconsin and Auburn outside of the division are solid. Root for them to go atleast 10-2.
- Michigan is also going to be a ranked win following their win against Wisconsin. 9-3 is probably their absolute floor. Not saying to root for them but them going atleast 9-3 is best case scenario for the playoff resume.
- MSU is the only other potential ranked win for OSU who similarly to Michigan have a floor of 9-3 with a ACC win over Miami. Root for them to go atleast 9-3.
- Iowa-This will be the B1G west champion and with a win over ISU they will be 10-2 at the worst. They have a very manageable schedule after this week against PSU and could even be 12-0 heading into Indy. I don't think it matters who wins this weekend. PSU being undefeated and OSU beating them before the playoff rankings come out would be a "Were still here" statement. Beating a 12-0 Iowa in the conference championship game would be a massive win as well before the final rankings come out.
Other Contenders
- ACC-OUT. Clemson has 2 losses, nobody else can make it. Enjoy the Orange Bowl.
- PAC-12-Hanging on by a thread. Oregon losing is actually very good for OSU because it presents the possibilty of the PAC-12 joining the ACC in oblivion. 1 loss Oregon would get in over OSU, but now Oregon must be perfect the rest of the way for the Pac-12 to get in. If they lose again the Pac-12 is out of the playoff yet again.
- Big-12-Still alive with OU still undefeated despite flirting with defeat basically every game this year. Undefeated OU>1 loss OSU but if they drop a game they will drop behind OSU. Root for anybody to beat them.
- SEC-Bama & UGA sit alone at the top of the country and should go unchallenged the rest of the way. Only question now is if both can make the playoff.
- AAC-UC is going to be a thorn in the playoff talks. @ND will hold up as a good win but Indiana probably wont even make a bowl game which really hurts their chances. UCF isn't that good this year but Houston/SMU could be decent wins. UC fans need Notre Dame to be 11-1 and SMU to win everyother game to have a legit argument.
Current playoff(if OSU and all other favorites win out)-I think at this point OSU controls its own destiny. It would be really hard for the committee to say OSU doesn't get a chance and instead they will do a rematch of the SEC championship game.
1.SEC 1(winner of Bama Georgia)
2.Oklahoma
3.Oregon
4.OSU vs SEC 2(loser of Bama Georgia)
