College Football Playoff: Top 21 Programs To Not Make the CFP
T20. Auburn
Wins Since 2014: 62
Best Season in CFP Era: 2017, 10-4, lost SEC Championship
Realistic Chance To Make College Football Playoff This Season: Slim
Bottom Line: In the brief history of the CFP, no two-loss team has ever made it in. 2017 Auburn almost certainly would’ve been the exception if it had beaten Georgia for the SEC Championship, and that’s as close as it has come ever since losing to Florida State in the last BCS Championship Game in early 2014.
Auburn Preview | Top 10 Players | Schedule Analysis
T20. Air Force
Wins Since 2014: 62
Best Season in CFP Era: 2019, 11-2, Cheez-It Bowl win
Realistic Chance To Make College Football Playoff This Season: Almost none
Bottom Line: Air Force hasn’t been anywhere near the College Football Playoff, but it won the 2015 Mountain West Championship, has four double-digit win seasons in the CFP era, and quietly keeps on cranking up good season after good season. Colorado is the only Power Five team on the 2022 schedule – that’s not enough to make the playoff even if it goes 13-0.
Air Force Preview | Top 10 Players | Schedule
T17. WKU
Wins Since 2014: 63
Best Season in CFP Era: 2016, 11-3, Conference USA champion, Boca Raton Bowl win
Realistic Chance To Make College Football Playoff This Season: None
Bottom Line: The bounceback/breakthrough 2021 season pushed the program up, winning nine games thanks to the high-powered offense. No, it’s not going to be close to the CFP this season, but it’ll once again be one of the Conference USA stars.
WKU Preview | Top 10 Players | Schedule
T17. Toledo
Wins Since 2014: 63
Best Season in CFP Era: 2017, 11-3, MAC champion
Realistic Chance To Make College Football Playoff This Season: None
Bottom Line: It would take a total college football meltdown for a MAC team to make the College Football Playoff. The 2022 Rockets are going to be strong, and if they shock the world with a win at Ohio State early and go undefeated … nah. It still might not be enough, but the program will keep on winning lots of games.
Toledo Preview | Top 10 Players | Schedule
T17. TCU
Wins Since 2014: 63
Best Season in CFP Era: 2014, co-Big 12 champion, won Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Realistic Chance To Make College Football Playoff This Season: Slim
Bottom Line: The 2014 team was third in the penultimate CFP rankings, blew out Iowa State 55-3, and finished sixth in the final version. Gary Patterson put together a consistent Big 12 powerhouse, but the production dropped over the last few years and now Sonny Dykes has to keep the wins coming.
TCU Preview | Top 10 Players | Schedule Analysis
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16. Houston
Wins Since 2014: 64
Best Season in CFP Era: 2015, 13-1, AAC Champion, won Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Realistic Chance To Make College Football Playoff This Season: Medium
Bottom Line: UConn 20, Houston 17. Had the Cougars not gagged away the late November road date in 2015, they might have been the first Group of Five program to get into the College Football Playoff. This year’s team can make it close by beating Texas Tech and winning the AAC title to go 13-0, if it can get there. Next year it’s off to the Big 12 to make things even more interesting.
Houston Preview | Top 10 Players | Schedule