College Football Playoff: What chaos does UCF need to reach the Top 4?

What this would all mean for UCF and the College Football Playoff

Imagine this all falls into place. UCF will be one of two undefeated teams left. More importantly, the Power Five champions would be as follows:

• ACC: Pittsburgh (8-5) over Clemson (10-3)
• Big 12: Texas (10-3) over West Virginia (10-2)
• Big Ten: Northwestern (9-4) over Ohio State (11-2)
• Pac-12: Arizona State (9-4) over Washington (9-4)
• SEC: Alabama (13-0) over Georgia (11-2)

In this scenario, Alabama would conclude the season ranked No. 1 just like they began the year. The Crimson Tide would be a lock to defend their College Football Playoff crown. Behind them, though, everything becomes a mess as no single one-loss Power Five team remains in this picture.

‘In a field of two-loss teams, and with the strength of schedule boost from playing against the Bearcats, Bulls, and whoever represents the West in the AAC championship game, the Knights would have the resume and the record to certainly justify giving the a shot on this year alone.

Add in the reputation built on becoming just the 27th team in FBS history to build up a winning streak of at least 25 games, and there would be no way for the College Football Playoff selection committee to justify excluding the Knights without indulging in mental gymnastics and a lot of contradictions.

Does that mean UCF will actually get in? No… but this is what needs to fall into place to make it even become a possibility, demonstrating just how difficult the present system makes it for Group of Five teams to earn more than a token New Year’s Six appearance.