The implications this game has on the playoff race would be intensified with an aforementioned constellation of losses. As many as seven or eight teams have the potential to impress the committee enough to earn a top four spot, which would ensure a place in the playoff.
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But what about conference championship games?
No. 1 Clemson takes on No. 10 North Carolina in that game. Alabama has zero excuses if it loses to Florida in the SEC Championship Game.
While the committee doesn’t have a lot of control over who teams play, or how they were ranked prior to the committee’s first ranking, they can look at those and other factors to determine who they believe the best teams in the nation are.
Big Ten Championship: Iowa vs. Michigan State- This game is basically a playoff quarterfinal between the No. 4 team in the Hawkeyes and the No. 5 team in the Spartans.
There’s really no way Alabama could remain in the playoff with another defeat. The Big Ten champion will be in the top four, whether it’s 13-0 Iowa or 12-1 Michigan State. The two undefeated teams at the top of the rankings still face must-win situations and if either one falters, it could create one final shakeup before the four seeds are set. In the committee’s official selection protocol, winning conference championships is strongly considered.
Iowa played an incredibly soft schedule and didn’t have to face Ohio State, Michigan State or Michigan until the conference title game. The Hawkeyes deserve a ton of credit for what they accomplished running the table with 12 straight wins but they aren’t as battle-tested as the Spartans. The Tigers are the No. 1 team in the latest college football rankings while the Tar Heels are sitting at No. 10 going into the week.
So what happens if Clemson loses? The Tigers losing probably helps Ohio State more, though, because the Buckeyes would have a better resume if both are one-loss teams. The Cardinal will likely need to secure a convincing win as well as for Clemson, Alabama and Michigan State to all lose in order to have a chance. However, on championship weekend Ohio State whipped Wisconsin 59-0. This game is worth watching regardless of what happens elsewhere to see if Stanford can make one final statement and clinch a Pac-12 title against a rival they have already beaten once this season. The most likely finish for the Cardinal is fifth or sixth. It will all come down to this week’s games and who wins certain games. Alabama and Stanford certainly would need to lose. The loser will most likely make its way to the Rose Bowl, however, a different “New Year’s Six” bowl game, such as the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Sugar Bowl, is possible if Ohio State is selected for the Rose Bowl.
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It’s a long shot, but there’s still an outside chance for the Tar Heels.
