College Football Is Just Too Nuts, Man!

It's been another crazy season in college football in 2021.  The level of parity throughout the country is surprising considering the dominance of Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State in recent years.

Clemson is down this year, Alabama is vulnerable (by their standards).  And Ohio State looks beatable (whether it happens or not in the Big Ten is another story).

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WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW

As of this writing (November 8), there are four unbeaten teams left in FBS college football, they are:  Georgia, Cincinnati, Oklahoma and Texas-San Antonio.  And while the story of the UTSA Roadrunners is a great underdog story, they aren't a realistic choice for the College Football Playoff (CFP).

SO, WHO GETS INTO THE PLAYOFF?

If Georgia (mascot UGA X, pictured above) and Cincinnati go through the season and finish 13-0 and win their league title games (the SEC and American Conference, respectively), they're in the CFP.  Oklahoma might get in if they finish 13-0 and win the Big 12.  But it's tougher for them because they are ranked below several one-loss teams.  And you know that defense is optional at OU.

SPEAKING OF THE ONE-LOSS TEAMS

There are twelve one-loss teams left in the nation.  As far as the Power 5 conferences go, they are:  Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Alabama.  Houston, San Diego State, Coastal Carolina, and Louisiana-Lafayette also have only one loss, but aren't realistic possibilities for the playoff.

WHO JOINS UGA, CINCY, & OU IN THE PLAYOFF?

The Atlantic Coast Conference won't get  a team in because Wake Forest lost last Saturday at North Carolina.  If Oklahoma loses at Baylor this coming Saturday, the Big 12 likely won't get a team in.  Oklahoma State is a slight possibility, but only if they win out.

Oregon's early season win over Ohio State is HUGE for the Ducks.  If the Ducks win out and take the PAC-12 title at 12-1, they should get the fourth spot over anybody in the Big Ten who finishes 11-1 or 12-1.

BUT IF OREGON LOSES???

The Ducks may have to beat Utah twice to win the PAC-12.  They play the Utes next week on the road.  And then they likely will play them again in the PAC-12 championship in December.  Lose either one of those (or to Washington State this week), and that opens it up for the Big Ten Conference.

OH YEAH, THE BIG TEN

The Big Ten won't get a team into the playoff unless they are 12-1.  That leaves Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan as the possibilities.  MSU is at Ohio State and Michigan hosts Ohio State before we even get to the Big Ten title game.

And I forgot one other team that's out there:

WHAT ABOUT NOTRE DAME?

The Irish are 8-1 with only a loss to Cincinnati on their resume.  They have winnable games with Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Stanford left.  If they're 11-1, what do you do with the Irish?  Don't count them out.  They get preferential treatment on these things.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It's going to be a wild final four weeks of the regular season.  I hope I clarified some things for you.  But if say, Georgia or Cincinnati lose, them it gets even more jumbled and disregard a lot of what I just wrote.

And I'll have to write another article titles "College Football Is Even More Nuts, Man!"