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5 steps for Group of 5 team to make 2018 College Football Playoff

By Luke Feliciano

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights reacts after defeating the Auburn Tigers 34-27 to win the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights reacts after defeating the Auburn Tigers 34-27 to win the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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4. Major Upsets

Not only would a Group of Five team have to go undefeated to be in the playoff conversation, but they would also need to secure at least one, maybe even two major upsets — particular against a Power Five team.

There were a few instances of this occurring last season including the above picture when Troy knocked off LSU.

To make things even harder, many of the games played between Group of Five teams and Power Five teams are slated within the first few weeks of the season. Most teams, unless returning a slew of experienced players, are often still taking the early part of the year to gel as a unit and are still figuring things out on both sides of the ball.

Upsets make college football incredibly exciting to watch and even the thought of a team flirting with the prospect of an underdog victory gives that thrill factor.

The odds are certainly stacked against Group of Five teams but in recent years, a select few showed they could be worthy of being considered for a playoff spot. A team’s strength of schedule is one of the major criteria for the selection committee, so taking down a top team can greatly affect a Group of Five team’s playoff chances.

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