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Best-case scenarios for all 8 College Football Playoff contenders

By Chris Peterson

Nov 11, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Javon Bullard (22) celebrates with teammates after an interception against the Mississippi Rebels in the second quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Javon Bullard (22) celebrates with teammates after an interception against the Mississippi Rebels in the second quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian celebrates a score against Kansas State Wildcats in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, November. 4, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Texas Longhorns beat Kansas State Wildcats 33-30 in overtime.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian celebrates a score against Kansas State Wildcats in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, November. 4, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Texas Longhorns beat Kansas State Wildcats 33-30 in overtime. /

7. Texas

The Longhorns can’t be feeling great about their College Football Playoff position after getting ranked seventh. It doesn’t help that Oklahoma State beat Oklahoma.

If the Sooners were in the Big 12 title game and ranked in the top 10, it would probably be enough to help the Longhorns leapfrog Ohio State with a win. The conference title can be a tiebreaker but only if the committee views the teams as equal and I’m not sure they do.

A close win over Oklahoma State is the last thing the Longhorns need. They need to win convincingly and then they should root for Alabama. Then again, there is another scenario where Florida State loses, and Texas rolls, then jumps the Pac-12 loser, and Ohio State, plus FSU.

An Alabama win will make things interesting, but the Horns want the Seminoles to lose either way. If Michigan wins, they are in, plus the Pac-12 champ. But if FSU drops its game, it would leave two spots open and four teams in the mix: Alabama (SEC champ), Texas (Big 12 champ), Georgia, and Ohio State. That’s a really difficult decision and I’m not convinced Texas doesn’t get left at the altar.

Best-case scenario: Blowout win and FSU loss — other undefeated teams win. 

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