One loss teams that have a shot … technically
Run the table and finish the season with one loss and a conference championship, and that should get the job done. Lose again, and unless there’s a miracle, it’s all over. These teams will almost certainly lose again.
Arkansas
When it’ll all be over: Next week at Mississippi State
Iowa State
When it’ll all be over: either this week against Oklahoma or at Oklahoma State on October 24th.
Kansas State
When it’ll all be over: It got the big one out of the way at Oklahoma, but the Wildcats probably won’t be an underdog until Oklahoma State on November 7th or at Iowa State on November 21st.
Kentucky
When it’ll all be over: If not at home against Mississippi State on October 10th, at Tennessee on the 17th, or against Georgia on the 24th.
Missouri
When it’ll all be over: If not at Tennessee this week, at LSU the week after.
NC State
When it’ll all be over: at Pitt this week or at Virginia the week after.
Ole Miss
When it’ll all be over: Either at Kentucky this week or against Alabama the week after.
South Carolina
When it’ll all be over: At Florida this week, or against Auburn on October 17th, or at LSU on October 24th.
TCU
When it’ll all be over: This week at Texas.
Texas Tech
When it’ll all be over: Either at Kansas State this week or at Iowa State the week after.
Vanderbilt
When it’ll all be over: This week against LSU.
West Virginia
When it’ll all be over: If not against Baylor this week, at Texas Tech on October 24th, or against Kansas State on October 31st. If the Mountaineers go on a roll, then at Texas November 7th.
One loss teams that really do have a shot
This list will get bigger in a hurry. If any of these teams win out and win their Power Five championship, they’re almost a near-certain lock to get in.
LSU
When it’ll all be over: It might not be, but at Florida on October 17th or at Auburn on October 31st are the next best shots to get knocked out.
Oklahoma
When it’ll all be over: It could happen this week at Iowa State, or the next week against Texas. If the Sooners get through those two clean, then Oklahoma State on November 21st will be an issue. However, even if OU goes unbeaten the rest of the way, the Big 12 is so bad that a one-loss champ will need a ton of help.
– Teams that haven’t played yet, but …
– Finished. Done. Let’s go take a steam
– The Group of Five hopefuls
– The unbeaten College Football Playoff contenders