Teams that have a shot to get into the College Football Playoff by winning out, but they need a lot of help
Think Texas A&M of last year – it lost once at Alabama, but it still didn’t get in. These teams can be in the discussion for one of the four spots by winning out, but they’re going to need a whole slew of breaks.
18. Ole Miss Rebels (5-1)
Ole Miss is in the College Football Playoff if … Georgia loses twice. It’s asking for a lot but the Rebels have to win out – they have tough games at Auburn and Mississippi State and at home against LSU and Texas A&M – Georgia has to drop a game, and Alabama rolls to the SEC Championship. If there are a few multi-loss Power Five champions, an 11-1 Ole Miss whose only loss is at Alabama might slip in.
It’s all going to go wrong against … at Auburn or against Texas A&M. The rest of the schedule is too tough.
Will Ole Miss get into the College Football Playoff? It would be fascinating if the Rebels could get to the Egg Bowl at Mississippi State at 10-1 and with a major CFP theoretical discussion on the table. There will be one other loss along the way, but it’ll be a fun ride.
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