Following a turbulent Week 11 of college football, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee released the second edition of its top-25 teams. What do this week’s top 10 teams need to do in order to secure their spots in the first-ever 12-team playoff?
- Oregon Ducks (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) (-)
Oregon, possibly the most well-rounded team in the country, was unanimously voted No. 1 in the AP Poll for the second straight week. The Ducks are two heavily-favored wins from a perfect regular season and a berth in the Big Ten Championship game. Appearing in that game would almost certainly earn the Ducks their second-ever playoff appearance, but winning it would earn them a first-round bye.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) (-)
Ohio State boasts perhaps the nation’s best roster and certainly the nation’s best loss, a one-point heartbreaker at Oregon a month ago. A win against undefeated and No. 6-ranked Indiana Hoosiers in two weeks would almost certainly secure them a berth in the Big Ten Championship game.
3. Texas Longhorns (8-1, 4-1 SEC) (+2)
Texas was the nation’s top-ranked team before losing to Georgia in Week 8. Though that lone loss is respectable, Texas’ best win remains a three-point victory over then-No. 25 Vanderbilt. The Longhorns will need to win out if they want to stay safe above the SEC’s growing horde of two-loss teams. They’ll especially need to beat Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) in their season finale.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) (+2)
Penn State has looked solid, but appears to be a tier below Big Ten heavyweights Oregon and Ohio State. The loss to Ohio State will likely keep them out of the Big Ten title game, but an 11-1 Penn State should make the playoffs anyway.
5. Indiana Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) (+3)
Indiana is undefeated, thanks in part to their famously light schedule. The Hoosiers will face their biggest test on Nov. 26 in Columbus, when they visit the No. 2 Buckeyes. The winner of that game will likely secure both a Big Ten title berth and playoff spot.
6. BYU Cougars (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) (+3)
BYU was a penalty away from losing to 4-4 Utah on Saturday. They may need to remain undefeated and win the Big 12 in order to make the playoffs. Even if things go differently, a one-loss BYU would be hard to exclude.
7. Tennessee Volunteers (8-1, 5-1 SEC) (-)
Like Texas, Tennessee likely only needs to win out to secure an SEC Championship appearance. That’s easier said than done with a visit to Georgia coming this weekend. Another loss would make Tennessee the sixth SEC team with two losses and the fifth to lose both in-conference.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1, Independent) (+2)
Notre Dame’s one loss (16-14 at home to lowly Northern Illinois in Week 2) was as bad as losses get, but the Fighting Irish got up and kept fighting. As an independent, Notre Dame has no chance of a first-round bye, but the Fighting Irish are three wins from a playoff berth.
9. Miami Hurricanes (9-1, 5-1 ACC) (-5)
Miami’s string of second-half comebacks came to an end at Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Hurricanes will need to avoid falling behind again if they want to win the ACC Championship Game, which is likely their only path to the playoffs.
10. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-2, 4-2 SEC) (+1)
Alabama lost to both Tennessee and Vanderbilt in October, but has since regained its momentum. The Crimson Tide will need to play perfectly in order to stay alive in the SEC and playoff races.
