The Hawkeyes and Spartans’ clash in Indianapolis next Saturday is the only conference championship that is a veritable playoff quarterfinal. Houston’s flawless season ended last week after the Cougars suffered a tough 20-17 loss to UConn.
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No ACC championship for either since 1980, when UNC won with Lawrence Taylor and Famous Amos Lawrence. That, however, won’t be the case.
Do they reward one-loss conference champions like Iowa and North Carolina by taking them over two-loss teams like MI and Oklahoma?
Oklahoma (#3 seed) wins 52.3% of the time against Alabama (#2 seed) with an average score of 26-25 in the other projected playoff semifinal. Last season’s affair, as Sooner fans hesitate to recall, went down to the very end, with Oklahoma State tying the game with an ill-fated 92-yard punt return for a touchdown following a punt do-over by OU set up by a defensive penalty called against Oklahoma State that was not declined by the Sooners’ coaching staff. The game ultimately was sent to overtime, and the Cowboys prevailed 38-35 in the extra session. Both teams here are still alive in the Playoff hunt, although Stanford is only hanging on by a thread with two losses.
In the Big 10, only Iowa remains unbeaten.
Ohio State beat out both TCU and Baylor past year for the coveted fourth spot not because it had a better resume (it didn’t), not because it had a better win (it didn’t) and not because it had the best loss (it didn’t).
Last season TCU was third in the second-to-last playoff rankings and slipped to sixth in the final rankings, behind Ohio State and Baylor.
We know a little more about Iowa’s bowl scenarios with a few games in the books. Ever since the first playoff rankings were released and the Sooners were outside the top 10, media types like Kirk Herbstreit, have been singing their praises as a darkhorse playoff contender. An Alabama loss and an win would mean the Rebels head to Atlanta for a rematch with the Gators.
But Kizer’s final challenge of the regular season looks to be his most hard. By the rankings, the best PAC 12 game of the weekend is the battle for Los Angeles as #29 UCLA takes on #24 USC for the right to take on Stanford in the PAC 12 Championship game. Unfortunately for OSU, winning out is no longer the way to the CFB.
This Saturday’s game marks the fifth consecutive meeting in which both the Irish and Cardinal are ranked.
The Buzz: There is a lot more on the line than just the Egg Bowl for Ole Miss. One thing secured that precious spot for the Buckeyes: 59-0. He may find himself in a similar situation as former Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion come draft season, drafted fairly early as a project for a team that likes his traits.
In fact, far from it with only one week remaining before four of the five major conferences hold championship games – with invitations into college football’s second four-team playoff likely coming from three of those title games. In a way, it is.
Notre Dame at Stanford, 7:30 p.m., Fox29: The CFP selection committee dropped the Fighting Irish out of the top four in the latest poll after the team’s mistake-filled win over Boston College. Just keep a one-loss ND team out of the conversation. The season-opening loss to SC looms large.
What’s new? The Alabama Crimson Tide are back contending for a top spot in the College Football Playoff. Seminoles win and cover. This will be the first matchup between Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer.
Carolina Panthers @ Dallas Cowboys (Dal -1.5) Straight: Panthers.
Miles has a record of 110-32 in his 11th season in Baton Rouge.
The Tigers host Texas A&M as rumors continue to swirl that Miles will soon be dismissed. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will decide who is champion of the Big 12.
Notre Dame: WR Will Fuller.
From there, one Big 10 team will be eliminated, Ohio State or MI, in their game against each other.
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Take away Iowa, which travels well, but wouldn’t bring the TV ratings desired, and any combination of four of those five teams would be ideal for the CFP financially.
