9. Oregon Ducks (5-1)
Oregon is in the College Football Playoff if … it wins out and gets a little help from Ohio State. The only reason the Ducks aren’t higher is because 1) they’re not playing well, and 2) they might need the Buckeyes to take the Big Ten title. Here’s the problem …
It’s all going to go wrong against … at UCLA on October 23rd, or at Utah on November 20th, or anywhere else along the way other than against Colorado.
However, 12-1 Pac-12 Champion Oregon – if that happens – doesn’t get in if Oklahoma wins out, Georgia and Alabama are both viable, and if someone other than Ohio State – who Oregon beat 35-28 in Columbus – takes the Big Ten title. A 12-1 or unbeaten Big Ten champion other than OSU more than likely gets in over the Ducks.
Will Oregon get into the College Football Playoff? No, but it’ll overcome one more loss along the way to get to the Pac-12 Championship. It’ll win its third title in a row to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl.
Ranking the teams alive for the College Football Playoff
UTSA | San Diego State | Coastal Carolina
SMU | Texas A&M | Auburn | Ole Miss
Notre Dame | Kentucky | Cincinnati
Baylor | Pitt | NC State | Wake Forest
Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State | Iowa
Michigan State | Oklahoma St | Michigan
Alabama | Oklahoma | Georgia
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings