Each week from now until conference championship week, we will likely lose at least one undefeated team each week, if not more. Surely chaos will strike and the pretenders will be exposed. But for now, we still have 12 undefeated teams in the top 25, essentially half of the teams.
Sure, Temple University, University of Toledo, University of Houston, and the University of Memphis are among the unscathed, but it is still an unusually high amount of undefeated teams heading into week nine. This time last year we had only four, one being Marshall University. In 2013, we had 10: Fresno State University, Northern Illinois University, and Texas Tech University were the outliers. However, this year is weird.
But that won’t go on through the entire season, will it?
In 2013, three teams lost in the next two weeks. In 2014, we only had a pair of undefeated teams two weeks later.
That means we are due for some upsets over the next several weeks.
Let’s take a look at the biggest storyline of the year so far, the undefeated teams, and find out what will happen over the course of the next few weeks.
Texas Christian University and Oklahoma State University will square off in two weeks, one of those teams will lose.
[Further on down the line, TCU and Oklahoma State will both meet Baylor, so one team coming out flawless would be amazing]Louisiana State University has a bye before meeting with the University of Alabama, a matchup with enough star power that we could see seismic activity in the South.
Clemson has one stepping stone left before it can coast to an undefeated season (I say this as all Clemson fans cringe at the word ‘coast,’ it’s never a coast as a Tiger fan); that stone is a large one. They’ll face off against Florida State in two weeks. FSU is looking to play spoiler for Dabo Swinney and company after that dramatic blocked kick.
Those matchups should all headline your to-do list heading into the future. Some major playoff implications and hopes will surely be spoiled.
But as I mentioned with the Big 12 schools, they all play each other. Chaos will surely strike there and in the Big 10.
Michigan State plays four more games, one of those is at Ohio State. Last weekend, the team looked improved, but so did the Buckeyes. That matchup looms for both teams.
The Buckeyes have the end of the season goosebumps themselves, however. J.T. Barrett made the Buckeyes look like a new squad last weekend, but can he go back-to-back-to-back against Michigan State, the University of Michigan, and then in the Big 10 Championship? A long road lays ahead for the B1G.
To round out the madness in B1G country, the University of Iowa is unscarred. They’ll likely await Ohio State, Michigan, or Michigan State in the B1G title game.
Three undefeated teams now, only one can last through the season. . . if that.
The Big 12 is also in that type of situation; only one can survive. So we just eliminated six undefeated teams. Only half of them left, again four of them are non-power five schools. Only two left.
LSU and Clemson, and I’ve already pointed you towards the battles ahead of each team. Clemson has a notable matchup with the Seminoles. LSU meets ‘Bama, the University of Arkansas, the University of Mississippi, and Texas A&M, not an easy field to sow.
Who has the best chance to survive undefeated and make it to the playoff without question?
Clemson and Iowa have the best chances just based off of scheduling. Clemson only has one ranked opponent left in the regular season, Iowa has none. Iowa will meet whoever survives the battle on the opposite side of the B1G so that battle looms.
Who do I think comes out alive?
Clemson and TCU. The Tigers will beat FSU. TCU will matchup against OK State and Baylor, neither an easy win, but they have the best quarterback in the country on their side. With the news of Seth Russell’s season-ending neck injury, Baylor needs to prove they’re the same team they have been.
Who’s in the playoff?
This question is one that will end friendships, spoil relationships, and make analysts look foolish. Columnists all across this vast nation are currently pondering this simple question.
Who makes it? Who knows?
I do.
Seriously, I’ve looked at the schedules, looked at the teams, thought about who actually has a shot, and then put all of that into a fancy algorithm (my brain) to get the magical answer.
1. TCU
2. Clemson
These are way too easy. I just told you they would finish undefeated, so obviously they’re in the playoff.
3. Alabama
Here’s my thinking. Alabama is far superior to Florida and Georgia (the two teams with a chance to play in the Southeastern Conference Title Game). They beat LSU and they’re in. If they’re close to LSU, and the Tigers lose another game, they’re the beneficiary.
4. LSU* If OSU, Michigan, MSU don’t win B1G Title, read on.
Okay, this is insane right. But before you crucify me, listen to what I have to say.
The Tigers will lose to ‘Bama in the game of the year. I think this will be one of college football’s premier games, it’ll be on ESPN Classic for decades. The weather will be sloppy or something, who knows? But it’ll be a last possession type of game. They lose due to inexperience. The rest of the undefeated teams have lost by now, Stanford and Notre Dame are in if they win out, they won’t. Baylor will lose in a big way to TCU and OK State will as well, all legitimate claims to number four are gone. In slips LSU.
Here’s my take on Ohio State. They’ve been undefeated for a while, 21 straight wins now.
But they play two rivals, back-to-back, to end the season. Michigan State has thrived throughout the low points (similar to the Buckeyes) as they looked much improved last week and now look to set sail towards the Buckeyes.
MSU has the better quarterback. Yes, I said it. Connor Cook will be a top pick in next year’s NFL Draft. He is still working with the team; they’re improving. I expect them to leave it all on the field against the Buckeyes.
Michigan has been irrelevant for an eternity regarding program history. An alumnus and former quarterback returned to Ann Arbor to lead them; he has done that. They are a freak play away from being a top 10 team. They are hungry to win again in this storied rivalry. This could be a monumental win for Harbaugh and a defining moment of his first season. That’s if they get past Sparty.
With those games looming, the Buckeyes have a really tough task ahead. Not only are those two games tough when taken out of context, but when you take into account that they would be going for wins 24 and 25 in a row, it’s a titanic task.
Then they have to play another tough team in the B1G Championship (if they make it). It’s just unrealistic for any team to run the table against that schedule.
The Buckeyes beat Michigan State and lose to Michigan, creating a three-way tie for first. That’s a disaster for everyone except the fans. We get to watch as chaos would ensue.
The representative for the East division (the West will be Iowa) would likely come down to who is highest ranked in the College Football Playoff poll. The poll doesn’t release until Tuesday, which would give Iowa only three days to prepare for the game.
With Ohio State at #1, Michigan State at #6, and Michigan at #15, the following happens. Michigan (if they win out) moves up each week a spot or two. They’re at somewhere between 6-10 when OSU and MSU play (who would be top five if they continue winning).
One loses (in my scenario MSU), now Michigan would be primed at #5-9. A win puts them in the top five, OSU drops out. Michigan will play Iowa (who I think ends up with one loss).
After the crazy week, Iowa rallies to beat Michigan. But after losing the conference championship, it cannot boost Iowa high enough to get into the playoff. Ohio State, Michigan, and MSU are all left on the outside looking in.
Okay, that was long-winded, but it had to be said. This article will be referenced in the future, take note and bookmark this page. Thanks.
Now, who wins the Heisman?
Here are my rankings:
1. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU (BYE)
On The Year: 166-250, 2,539 Yards, 25 TD – 5 INT
Rushing: 77 CAR, 440 Yards, 5 TD
Boykin had a bye.
2. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU 26 CAR, 150 Yards, 1 TD
On The Year: 176 CAR, 1,352 Yards, 15 TD
Not his best week (still exceptional) and he is still leading the nation in yards and touchdowns. We are nearing the battle of the gods when Fournette meets Henry. Patience my friends.
3. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama 28 CAR, 143 Yards, 2 TD
On The Year: 180 CAR, 1,044 Yards, 14 TD
Henry is a scorer; he trails Fournette by only one touchdown. He too anticipates the matchup with Fournette. That determines my top running back. Sorry folks, it’s that simple. Who steps up when it all matters.
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, OSU 19 CAR, 142 Yards, 2 TD
On The Year: 167 CAR, 1,130 Yards, 13 TD
Elliot is 1C when it comes to top running backs, but he’s still third best. With the emergence of J.T. Barrett as the new starter, he lost some luster. Barrett is going to take away some flashes from Elliott. He still has gigantic upside towards the Heisman.
5. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
15-19, 143 Yards, 1 TD, 8 Rush, 98 Yards, 1 TD
On The Year: 132-190, 1,566 Yards, 15 TD-7 INT
Rushing: 64 CAR, 332 Yards, 3 TD
Watson is the unquestioned leader of the Clemson Tigers. He has to keep them winning to remain near the top of the conversation. But for now, I think this is a four-man race for the award. Simply put, he does not have the stats.
Keep An Eye On: J.T. Barrett, Christian McCaffrey, Corey Coleman
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