College Football: 10 toughest paths to the playoffs in 2016

Jan 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers garden gnome signed by Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney sits on the College Football Playoff National Championship logo at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers garden gnome signed by Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney sits on the College Football Playoff National Championship logo at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers garden gnome signed by Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney sits on the College Football Playoff National Championship logo at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers garden gnome signed by Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney sits on the College Football Playoff National Championship logo at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

These ten college football teams look to have the toughest path to reach the 3rd edition of the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State wasn’t able to make a playoff repeat, even with what was considered to be a pretty light schedule. In fact, the only team who has reached the playoffs in both of the first two seasons is Alabama, who returned to beat Clemson for the national title last season.

It’s not an easy task with only four teams being selected to play. Teams must navigate their regular season schedules, rivalry games, conference championship games (well, not everyone), and hope that the teams around them manage to trip along the way somewhere.

It doesn’t necessarily take a perfect season, as it usually did in the dark days before the BCS and the playoff system, but more than one loss and you have a better chance of winning the Powerball than you do being selected for the playoffs.

Clemson was undefeated all the way to the national championship game, and there were still some who felt they didn’t belong.

Looking at the 2016-17 college football schedules, who has the most difficult path to reach the College Football Playoff? Based on early predictions, these 10 teams will really have to put together a heck of a season if they want to make it.

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