College Football Playoff Chase Rankings Top 8
8. Tennessee Volunteers (8-1)
What Tennessee has to do to make the College Football Playoff: Rumble, young team, rumble.
There was a reason the College Football Playoff committee put Tennessee No. 1 in the first round of the rankings – it was just that impressive over the first eight games. It stomped on LSU 40-13 on the road, wasted Kentucky 44-6, and won a thriller over Alabama.
Rip through the last three games, and at 11-1 with the lone loss a perfectly acceptable 27-13 game at Georgia, that might be enough to make the committee stay smitten.
Remaining Schedule: Missouri, at South Carolina, at Vanderbilt
Will Tennessee make the College Football Playoff? 50/50. If it’s amazing in the final three games and if Georgia wins the SEC Championship – all possible – then it’s about who else is in the mix.
A one-loss or unbeaten Big Ten champion is in over 11-1 Tennessee. An unbeaten TCU is in, but if there’s one loss it’s questionable.
A 12-1 USC or UCLA is almost certainly in over the Vols because of the conference championship factor, but there would be a debate if one open spot comes down to them or …
7 . Oregon Ducks (8-1)
What Oregon has to do to make the College Football Playoff: Win out, take the Pac-12 Championship, and do it impressively.
It would be a huge help if it goes against an 11-1 USC or UCLA winner – that changes the dynamic – but looking great against a tough finishing three-game regular season kick is a must. It could be argued that this has been one of the three-most impressive teams in college football since Week 1, and now it gets a chance to prove it against …
Remaining Schedule: Washington, Utah, at Oregon State
Will Oregon make the College Football Playoff? Maybe. To be too wishy-washy, it probably has more of a shot than it’s being given credit for here.
If it goes 12-1 with wins on the resumé over USC or UCLA – assuming that’s who’s in the Pac-12 title game – the Bruins from the regular season meeting, Washington State, BYU, and Washington, Utah, and Oregon State, that’s good enough. Here’s the problem.
49-3. It was Week One, and the committee tends to like the teams with a lot of momentum, but the loss to Georgia was too much of a wipeout – especially compared to Tennessee’s fight last week in Athens.
That’s why when it comes to who has the easier path in the Pac-12 …
6. UCLA Bruins (8-1)
What UCLA has to do to make the College Football Playoff: Win out, get in.
To do that, the Bruins would almost certainly have to avenge their earlier loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 championship. It was 42-32 on the road – it wasn’t that bad – so take out USC when everyone is watching, be a 12-1 Pac-12 champion, and pecking order-wise they’re in over any non-conference champion, aka Tennessee or the Michigan-Ohio State loser.
Remaining Schedule: Arizona, USC, at Cal
Will UCLA make the College Football Playoff? No. It’ll probably lose to USC or in the Pac-12 title game if it gets there. It would be helped in a big way if USC beats Notre Dame – that puts 12-1 UCLA in over a 12-1 Clemson, if it comes down to that.
Like Oregon, UCLA is being a bit undersold when it comes to really being in the race for this thing, but it has to get by …
5. USC Trojans (8-1)
What USC has to do to make the College Football Playoff: Just keep being USC.
The College Football Playoff committee didn’t seem to care how much of a struggle it has been so far for the Trojans – it ranked them ahead of UCLA and Utah in the first rankings.
On flash, impressive wins, and of course, brand name, 12-1 with a Pac-12 title would do it considering they would have to get through – most likely – Oregon in the conference championship after beating …
Remaining Schedule: Colorado, at UCLA, Notre Dame
Will USC make the College Football Playoff? A hesitating no. It’s too shaky defensively to beat UCLA and Notre Dame and Oregon or Utah. However, if it can do it and go 12-1, it’s absolutely in no matter how it looks.