What we learned about College Football Playoff chase in Week 11

The College Football Playoff race saw a couple of contenders get upset and here is where things stand after Week 11.

It was upset-city in Week 11 of the college football season as numerous teams pulled upsets of ranked teams.

Oregon lost to Washington after missing a fourth down in its own territory and allowing Washington to kick a game-winning field goal. North Carolina State lost to what has been a terrible Boston College team and UCLA also dropped a stunner last night to UCLA.

What does it mean for the College Football Playoff race? A lot as at least 3-4 teams still listed in the contender category were eliminated.

Oregon is out and the Pac-12’s position is much weaker

It was a bad week for Oregon but it was even worse for the Pac-12. The Ducks lost to Washington after gaining over 590 yards of total offense. Bo Nix accounted for over 300 total and three total touchdowns. Dan Lanning’s defense couldn’t get stops though and he decided to go for it in his own territory late in the game.

Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered. Either way, the Ducks still have hope in a chaotic Pac-12 title race but their playoff hopes are done. The only team in the Pac-12 with any hope is USC. The Trojans probably control their own destiny.

They face UCLA, Notre Dame, and it’s anyone’s guess in the Pac-12 title game but three straight wins over ranked teams and a 12-1 record should do it for USC. But a loss by the Trojans and the Pac-12 will miss the College Football Playoff again.

TCU is for real

TCU knocked off Texas and right now, even with one loss, they could have a good shot at making the College Football Playoff as long as they win the Big 12 title. This season TCU knocked off Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, and now Texas. It’s been an impressive run and it’s time people get serious about this team making the College Football Playoff.

A big night for Clemson and one-loss hopefuls

Bare with me, but right now, it looks like Georgia, the Michigan-Ohio State winner and TCU have the top three spots basically locked up. The fourth will likely go to USC if it wins out. Clemson would be next in line and I don’t see Clemson overtaking the Trojans.

But if the Michigan-Ohio State loser and Tennessee want to get back in the College Football Playoff mix — the rooting guide is becoming clear. USC needs to lose. Clemson needs to lose and Georgia needs to beat LSU.

Then it would be down to Tennessee and either Michigan or Ohio State. A one-loss (non-conference champion) didn’t seem likely to make the College Football Playoff but after Week 11, the chances are much better than they were.

Ole Miss and Alabama are out

Alabama was still an outside contender if LSU collapsed and allowed the Tide to get back into the SEC title game because a two-loss SEC champion would and will make the playoff. Deal with it.

But now that LSU has punched its ticket, Alabama isn’t going to be able to jump ahead of Tennessee and one wouldn’t think the loser of Michigan-Ohio State.

Ole Miss was a long shot like Alabama but if it won the SEC West and beat Georgia, it would have a good argument. Yet, that didn’t happen and the College Football Playoff race is becoming much clearer.