CFB: The Playoff Eliminator
ACC:
1. Boston College
2. Clemson
3. Florida State
4. Georgia Tech
5. Louisville
6. Miami
7. NC State
8. North Carolina
9. Pittsburgh
10. Virginia Tech
Clemson, Florida State, Miami, and Virginia Tech are the real contenders in this conference, but the likes of Boston College, Louisville, and NC State will have the most opportunities to cause chaos. Louisville will have the earliest chance to do so as they open the season with Alabama. Clemson has won the conference the last three seasons and are favorites to do so again this year. The Tigers’ earliest challenge will come in Week 2 on the road against Texas A&M. The Hurricanes have a difficult open to their season as they face LSU during opening weekend. That game could be a breaking point for the loser, while the winner will have a major resume builder. Florida State and Virginia Tech start their seasons against one another on Monday night.
Big Ten:
11. Iowa
12. Maryland
13. Michigan
14. Michigan State
15. Northwestern
16. Nebraska
17. Ohio State
18. Penn State
19. Wisconsin
Ohio State and Wisconsin are the favorites to reach the Big Ten title game (as they did last season), but the Big Ten East has at least three other teams that will make it difficult for the Buckeyes. Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State all have serious plans of making it to the College Football Playoff. Ohio State faces Oregon State and Rutgers before facing a tough road game at TCU in Week 3. Michigan, on the other hand, doesn’t get any chance to get a running start as they open away from the Big House against Notre Dame. Other teams that will have a shot at making some noise in the conference are Iowa, Nebraska, and Northwestern. Wisconsin is probably the safest bet to reach 11 wins as their schedule is the easiest by far.
Big 12:
20. Baylor
21. Iowa State
22. Kansas State
23. Oklahoma
24. Oklahoma State
25. TCU
26. Texas
27. West Virginia
Oklahoma won the Big 12 last year with a route over TCU in the conference title game, and they are expected to make it that far again. However, in my opinion, the conference is much more condensed this season. I see a realistic path to the playoff for at least five teams, and maybe six if you include forever competitive Kansas State. The other five teams are: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, and West Virginia. It’s not going to be easy for any of them as most have tough non-conference matchups. Oklahoma opens with Florida Atlantic, while Texas gets Maryland and USC in the first three weeks. West Virginia will have to take on Tennessee and NC State early, and as we previously mentioned, TCU will host Ohio State in Week 3.
Pac-12:
28. Arizona
29. Arizona State
30. Oregon
31. Stanford
32. UCLA
33. USC
34. Utah
35. Washington
36. Washington State
Washington seems to be the clear top playoff candidate out West, but there are several other teams that I could see stepping up and making a run for 10+ wins which would obviously put them in the conversation. A lot of the Pac-12 teams have standout players on offense like Arizona (Khalil Tate), Oregon (Justin Herbert), and Stanford (Bryce Love). All three of those guys are Heisman contenders according to many, and if they helped their team win double digit games then I wouldn't be surprised. USC will also have a shot at it depending on how freshman QB J.T. Daniels turns out. He'll have a tough test in Week 3 against Texas which will show us a lot. Washington opens their season with a difficult matchup as well, against Auburn.
SEC:
37. Alabama
38. Auburn
39. Florida
40. Georgia
41. LSU
42. Mississippi State
43. Missouri
44. South Carolina
45. Texas A&M
Alabama and Georgia helped the SEC become the first conference to have two wins in the CFP last season, and they went as far as meeting one another in the national championship game. There was no debate on the best conference, and it could happen again this season. The Crimson Tide open the season atop the rankings and the Bulldogs are only two spots behind. They are expected to meet in the SEC title game and if they're both 12-0 at that point, then it's possible the loser could still reach the four-team playoff. Outside of those two, Auburn is the clear cut third option. A couple of other teams that will have an opportunity to make a run are Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and possibly Texas A&M.
Others:
46. Boise State
47. Florida Atlantic
48. Houston
49. Notre Dame
50. UCF
Notre Dame is the only non-Group of Five team on this list so they would have the clearest path of reaching the playoff given their alignment with the ACC, difficult schedule, and proud history. UCF might have a shot too since they ran the table at 13-0 last year and if they could go undefeated again, it'd be difficult to keep them out. The reason a lot of the Group of Five teams can't reach the CFP is because they don't get enough chances to take down the big boys, but all of these programs have that opportunity on their schedule. Florida Atlantic gets Oklahoma in Week 1 and would go along way in making a case for the playoff. Boise State will get Oklahoma State in their second game. And Houston gets Arizona and Texas Tech.
Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated.
