College Football Playoff Projections Week 12: Two-Loss Teams In the Mix

Nov 8, 2014; Fort Worth, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs marching band member plays a song before the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. TCU beat Kansas State 41-20. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Teams that Have a Good Chance at the College Football Playoff but Need a Little Help

1. TCU Horned Frogs, 8-1

Again, we could be dead wrong about this since they are currently in the Selection Committee’s College Football Playoff Top 25. But we think if the Horned Frogs and Bears win out, the head-to-head will favor the Bears. Then with them and potentially a one-loss Pac-12 champion having even resumes, the conference champion tiebreaker scenario kicks in and favors the Pac-12 champion. So that leaves the Horned Frogs on the outside looking in. But all that changes if Baylor loses. That’s all this team needs to firmly cement itself in the College Football Playoff race.

2. Georgia Bulldogs, 7-2

The Georgia Bulldogs should still be ashamed with blowing their best chance at the playoff thanks to pathetic losses to Florida and South Carolina. But as we mentioned earlier, a two-loss SEC champion is likely still getting into the playoff. And technically, all the Dawgs need to control their own destiny for the SEC championship is for Missouri to lose. We are pretty confident that the Tigers could lose to Texas A&M, Tennessee, or Arkansas. And if that happens, the Dawgs are back in the race. It’s not a crazy scenario they need. It’s just a bit of help.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes, 8-1

That’s right, the Buckeyes are right back in the race for the College Football Playoff. And if they keep winning and win the Big Ten championship, they will at worst be in the Top 6. That means only a few things need to happen for them to get a break, but it’s a lot to ask for. Two of these four things have to happen: No more than one SEC team with less than two losses, no Pac-12 teams with less than two losses, no Big 12 teams with less than two losses, a Florida State loss. It can be any combination of two of those four things happening, and that is very possible. So don’t count this team out just yet.

4. Nebraska Cornhuskers, 8-1

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are really far down the list right now, but if they won out to get to 11-1, that would include beating Wisconsin, Minnesota, and likely Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. As a 12-1 Big Ten Champion, all that would matter then is for the same scenarios facing Ohio State to happen. In fact, they are both in the same situation as far as the need to control their own destiny. Again, two of the four: No more than one SEC team with less than two losses, no Pac-12 teams with less than two losses, no Big 12 teams with less than two losses, a Florida State loss. And again, this is very possible. So don’t count these guys out just yet.

Next: Ranking Teams that Still Have an Outside Shot at the College Football Playoff