The unbeaten College Football Playoff contenders
Going unbeaten with a Power Five championship will all but guarantee an invite into the College Football Playoff. The Big Ten and Pac-12 will be added when they start playing.
Alabama (5-0)
Will it happen? With the way this offense is working, nothing is slowing down. Even one loss is fine – the Crimson Tide aren’t going to lose twice before getting to the SEC Championship.
Clemson (6-0)
Will it happen? Can the team stay interested? It’s so good that it just has to avoid a few brain cramps, but just one is fine. It’ll win four of its next five games at the very least and be in the ACC Championship game once again with the CFP spot there for the taking.
Indiana (1-0)
Will it happen? Nah, but the team will still be pesky. The Hoosiers have to go on the road to Ohio State and Wisconsin and play Michigan. It won’t happen, but it’ll be a fun ride.
Michigan (1-0)
Will it happen? All of a sudden, Wisconsin might be a whole lot more beatable depending on its quarterback situation and the Penn State game is at home. Get to the Ohio State game unbeaten, and this year, 7-1 might actually get the team close to the pin.
Northwestern (1-0)
Will it happen? Who doesn’t beat Maryland 43-3? The Wildcats will be far better this year, and they don’t get Michigan, Penn State or Ohio State
Notre Dame (5-0)
Will it happen? At the very least, it’s putting itself in the position to do something big. There won’t be any problems against Georgia Tech, and then it’s on with Clemson coming to town. It’s still not easy after that with three road games in the final four.
Ohio State (1-0)
Will it happen? As long as Justin Fields stays healthy, the season will be a failure if the Buckeyes don’t win the national championship. That’s where the bar is set after last year, and the biggest remaining step until the regular season final against Michigan is next week at Penn State.
Oklahoma State (4-0)
Will it happen? The Cowboys got past one big hurdle with the Iowa State win, but Texas is up next and four of the last five games are on the road, so … no.
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Purdue (1-0)
Will it happen? Three road games in the next four should end the dream, but there’s no Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State to deal with from the East. Beat Wisconsin on the road and the rest of the slate just isn’t that bad … but no.
Rutgers (1-0)
Will it happen? Only if there’s a right and just god that wants to give us the greatest sports season in the history of mankind.
Wisconsin (1-0)
Will it happen? It all depends on whether or not the Badgers have a healthy quarterback. They should be able to get through most of the schedule – they’ll be favored in every game buy the road trip to Michigan – but can they get to the Big Ten Championship at 7-1? Yeah, and then comes the hard stop against – likely – Ohio State.
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