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How Western Michigan Could Reach the 2016 College Football Playoff

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 17, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; The Western Michigan Broncos defense celebrates after the interception by Western Michigan Broncos linebacker Robert Spillane (10) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Western Michigan beat Illinois 34 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; The Western Michigan Broncos defense celebrates after the interception by Western Michigan Broncos linebacker Robert Spillane (10) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Western Michigan beat Illinois 34 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops walks off the field after a game against the Houston Cougars at NRG Stadium. The Cougars defeated the Sooners 33-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops walks off the field after a game against the Houston Cougars at NRG Stadium. The Cougars defeated the Sooners 33-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

3. See a Big 12 Collapse

The Power Five conference that is most vulnerable of missing the College Football Playoff at this point of the season is undoubtedly the Big 12. Oklahoma currently leads the pack with a perfect league record, but they have a backloaded schedule that has them facing their two rivals for the title. If the Sooners were to lose to West Virginia and Oklahoma State over the next two weeks — a scenario that is hardly impossible — they would fall out of the running.

That leaves the Mountaineers and Cowboys. Even if they both win over Oklahoma, there are still other opportunities to crumble under the pressure of the final stretch. Oklahoma State’s game at TCU next weekend is no sure victory, and if the Horned Frogs win it would spell a second conference loss for the Pokes even before the Bedlam game. And as mentioned, West Virginia still has to play at Iowa State (always a dangerous trap) and close against Baylor. If they lose even one of those two games, Mike Gundy’s team would be the champion… with a 6-2 league record and having gone 9-3 overall. The only way they’d get into the semifinals is if the CFP committee completely forgets their loss to the Chippewas.

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