SMQ: What would it take for UCF to reach the College Football Playoff?

3. Every other team must fall from the ranks of the unbeaten

As was mentioned earlier, there are only five undefeated teams left in the FBS. UCF is one of those teams, of course, and the other four are all Power Five schools. Only three of the four have the possibility to finish the year unbeaten, as Alabama and Georgia are on a collision course to meet in the SEC Championship Game. One would definitely sustain a loss should they meet in Atlanta.

But UCF can’t wait for December for the rest of the unbeaten squads to lose their perfect records. A LSU victory over the Crimson Tide in Week 10 would give the Knights a big boost. If South Carolina dealt Georgia a loss next week, all the better for UCF’s shot at a College Football Playoff berth. Virginia Tech also has the chance to take out Miami this weekend, while Indiana gets another chance at an upset when they host Wisconsin.

If LSU can’t knock off the Tide, perhaps Mississippi State or Auburn can do the trick. Auburn, Kentucky, and Georgia Tech could also take down Georgia. Wisconsin will still have to play Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota before the end of the regular season. And Miami could easily take a loss (or two or three) when they play Notre Dame, Virginia, and Pitt after the Hokies.