How WSU can make the 2017 College Football Playoff (maybe)

Hello Followers.   Hope you are doing great.

I want to take a quick second today to provide an in-depth case scenario for how Washington State could find itself in the 2017-2018 College Football Playoff.  But before I do, a few quick qualifying words.

First, I want to make clear that I do NOT think that we are going to hang with Washington in Seattle in two weeks, let alone win the game.  Moreover, I am not  confident that we are going to shake off our road yips in time to beat Utah on Saturday.

But last night’s playoff rankings–which put USC at 11 and Washington at 9– provided JUST enough room for the impossible (i.e., us making the playoff) that it got me thinking….

And after a morning drive to Birmingham for a Doctor’s appointment with Little Sutra, me and the lad had cobbled together a semi-plausible scenario that works not only for WSU, but also UW (absolutely) and USC (maybe).

So let’s get to the miracle scenario by breaking down what would need to happen within each conference race.

The Mountain West

Boise State wins remaining games and then wins MWC Championship.  They finish 11-2.

The Pac-12 Race

UW routs Stanford and Utah,

USC routs UCLA and Colorado.

WSU wins out.

Under this scenario, WSU wound close the season by beating two top 10 teams in USC and Washington.   Overall, WSU would complete season with 3 top 10 wins (3-0), undefeated against ranked Top25 teams (4-0 or 5-0 if BSU is ranked and Arizona is not), and we would also possess four victories over teams with 10 or more victories.

Mind you, that doesn’t replace the two bad losses—especially CAL—but if CAL is able to get to 6 wins, then the two losses would be to bowl teams on the road.

The ACC Race

Miami wins out (beating Notre Dame and Clemson in title game)

Clemson wins out, loses to Miami in ACC title game.

The Big12 Race

Oklahoma beats TCU and wins out.

Iowa State wins out.

If that occurs, Iowa State would clinch 2^nd place in Big12 by virtue of head-to-head over TCU, setting up re-match with Oklahoma in Big 12 Championship game.

Iowa State then beats Oklahoma in rematch.

The SEC Race

Georgia loses to Auburn.

Alabama wins out and wins SEC by beating Georgia in title game.

The Big10

Michigan wins out, beating Ohio State and Wisconsin

Ohio State wins out, save a end of season road loss to Michigan.

Penn State wins out.

Michigan State loses to Ohio State, but wins the rest of their games.

Under this scenario, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State tie for division title. But under tie-breaker, Michigan State and Ohio State survive first cut with best overall head-to-head among division winners (2-1).  Ohio State then wins tie-breaker by virtue of head-to-head over Michigan State.

Ohio State then beats a one loss Wisconsin in the B1G championship game.

Independents/AAC

Notre Dame loses to Miami and then narrowly beats what becomes a 5 loss Stanford team.

Central Florida loses to South Florida, wrecking their perfect season, and essentially disqualifying them from the mayhem.

This is what we’re then left with:

So, based on that scenario, Notre Dame seems like a lock for the third seed. But then, for the fourth seed, the question becomes one of quality wins relative to each team’s total number of losses and quality of losses.

This is what we’re then left with:

When you look at the quality wins—with an eye toward W’s against teams with double digit victories and the like—it gets really interesting.  Ohio State would have a good resume on one hand, but there’s the 3 losses, including getting shelled at home by Oklahoma.  Oklahoma’s resume is great, but they would have just lost to Iowa State who would have beaten them twice–and do you give a playoff nod to a team that just lost their conference championship to a team with three losses?  Iowa State’s resume is great, but they would have three losses and all of their marquee wins, save one would be at home.

Meanwhile, Clemson and Georgia would each have quality resumes, but would be lacking more than one marquee win—especially down the stretch run.

In short, while there would be a hearty debate—and certainly our two road stinkers might cost us dearly—I think we would come out on top—especially with a top 10 defense and two road-neutral Top10 wins to close out the year.  Moreover, add a conference championship ring  to a 9 game conference slate with no bye until Week 11, and I think you have a #4 seed to play BAMA (and get eaten alive).

Of course, none of that is going to happen, in part, because I don’t think we get to 10-2, let alone 11-2. Hell, we might not even get to 9-3.

But the scenario outlined above is just semi-realistic enough to think that…..

All for now. Go Cougs.