College Football Playoff Projections Week 12: Two-Loss Teams In the Mix
Nov 8, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban celebrates after an overtime win against the LSU Tigers in a game at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
FBS Teams Who Still Control Their Own Destiny for a Spot in the College Football Playoff
1. Alabama Crimson Tide, 8-1
Right now the Tide are out of it because our projections have them losing to the Mississippi State Bulldogs this weekend and falling to a 2-loss team. But if they win, they’ll be back in the projections. So at this time, they control their own playoff fate. This is one of our Top 4 teams in the country right now, but again it’s all based on schedule. And somebody has to lose between Alabama and Mississippi State. But a win on Saturday and winning out will vault this team to No. 2 in our projections and possibly No. 1. So there’s no reason for this team to worry about where it stands right now.
2. Arizona State Sun Devils, 8-1
Last week, we said these guys had a chance to get into the College Football Playoff. This week, they are firmly in control of their own destiny. If they keep on winning, that would involve a collision course between them and Oregon at the end of the year. Somebody would win that game, and it would probably be the Sun Devils. If that happens, there’s no way the Selection Committee keeps these guys out of the playoff. The only chance of that happening would be if two SEC teams get in, which would only happen if Alabama beat Mississippi State and both teams won out, but even then they would have to fall below a Big 12 team. Those two things happening are so unlikely that it’s safe to say these guys control their own destiny.
3. Missouri Tigers, 7-2
You didn’t read that wrong. The Missouri Tigers still control their own destiny to reach the College Football Playoff in what could be a crazy scenario. Imagine, seriously, the Tigers winning the East, which they control their own destiny in doing, and then upsetting the SEC West champion. The Selection Committee won’t leave a two-loss SEC Champion out of the playoff race, even if it does come from the SEC East. Winning the conference for the Tigers could potentially be another way to have two SEC teams in the College Football Playoff. So despite being unranked, these guys still control their own destiny, as crazy as it sounds.
Next: Ranking Teams Still in the Playoff Race that Need Help