We’ve got about two weeks left in this thing before we figure out who’s playing in the CFB Playoffs, and it appears this year, the committee will earn its keep (which is $0). There are still a few scenarios out there where it’s not completely oily, but they’re few and far between.
So the relative stress level in deciding the four teams that get in will flesh themselves out here soon, but if the committee likes a laid back home stretch for this thing, you can bet they’ll be rooting for certain scenarios.
Boom! (Indicating we can get into the office and knock this thing out in 15 minutes and head to the watering hole to celebrate a job well done).
1. Alabama, Michigan/OSU, Washington, and Clemson win out and/or win conference championships
Under this scenario, you get your four conference champs who have a clear resolution of being the best teams in the conference. If it can be this easy, you can darn well bet they’ll take it. No thought process needed, here.
2. Alabama, Michigan, Clemson, win out, Colorado wins the Pac-12
As bizarre as it sounds, Colorado could give some clarity if they win the Pac-12 and all of this happens. The rest of them are obvious.
3. Alabama, Michigan, Clemson win out, USC wins the Pac-12
If USC were to beat Washington twice, plus having the rocket fuel behind them as everyone’s, “forget about September, they’re playing great now!” team (and this would require a Colorado loss), people probably would hold their noses at a rematch with Alabama.
After this, it starts getting hairy
Doom (Set up a cot. We’re sleeping next to the desk.)
4. Florida wins the SEC, Michigan, Clemson, and Washington win their conferences
Now we get a little oily. You’d have a two-loss SEC champ and you probably feel like you have to stick an SEC champ in there … but you can’t dump Alabama. So what the heck do you do? How much does the “conference championship” mean?
5. Alabama wins the SEC, Penn State/Wisconsin wins the Big Ten, Clemson/Washington win their conferences
The issue here becomes the Big Ten, especially if it’s Wisconsin, who’d have lost head to head at home to Ohio State. Even if it’s Penn State, it gets mighty sloppy since OSU would have a win over Michigan … who mauled PSU … and a better record.
6. Florida wins the SEC, Penn State/Wisconsin wins the Big Ten, Clemson/Washington win their conferences
Man, it gets ugly starting from here on out, not merely oily. Oil can be washed. This is grubby. Michigan housed PSU, who lost to Pitt and would have the same amount of losses. Ohio State would have a better record in this scenario. Both beat Wisconsin. And then you’ve got Alabama to deal with …
7. Florida wins the SEC, PSU/Wisconsin wins the Big Ten, Colorado wins the Pac-12, Clemson wins the ACC
It’s important to remember with this one, Colorado would have lost a game against Michigan, so how do you let them in regardless of what happened in the Pac-12? OSU would be there at 1-loss in this scenario, too. I mean, this is straight chaos, which likely won’t happen … but really isn’t changed much even if Alabama wins the SEC.
8. Florida wins the SEC, PSU/Wisconsin wins the Big Ten, Colorado wins the Pac-12, and someone other than Clemson wins the SEC
This is your last scenario so you can get to bed, or something more important, but it’s flat out DOOOOOOOOOM. You’re looking at a scenario where each conference would ostensibly have champions all viewed as less than the best teams in each of their conferences (and may be even with record, too) throughout the season. The committee might need a handle of Old Camp on site if all of this happens.
