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College Football Playoff Projections 2018: Field narrows after Week 8

By Gavin Jernigan

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 15: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 15: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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The College Football Playoff picture changed significantly after Week 8. As more teams lose, it becomes more obvious who is deserving of a spot…for now.

The Ohio State Buckeyes found themselves ranked at number two heading into Week 8. But their trip to Purdue did not goes as planned. Apparently, the Buckeyes were not aware that they were on upset alert, since they were down 21-6 after three quarters. Their comeback effort was too little, too late. At this point in the season, a bad loss to a team like Purdue takes you out of the playoff. Could this change? Sure.

But first, the weekly disclaimer about UCF

The UCF Knights made an interesting move this week in their game at East Carolina. Star quarterback, McKenzie Milton, sat out due to a nagging injury. Therefore, backup Darriel Mack Jr. was under center for the Knights. Although UCF got off to a slow start in the first quarter, the Knights eventually broke away and won easily, 37-10.

ECU is not, by any means, a quality opponent. However, as I’ve said over and over again, the ability to win with a backup quarterback is essential to a team’s propensity for future success. This win wouldn’t have meant much for UCF had Milton been playing. But with Mack Jr. leading the Knights, we gain even more confidence in UCFs chances against teams like Alabama or Clemson.

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