Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

Since the playoff format was introduced to college football in 2014, it has generally created some form of chaos in each of the two years. However, that chaos was kicked up a notch this past weekend when five top ten teams were defeated including the numbers two, three and four teams. The playoff picture is now wide open.

The easiest team to pick for a spot is Alabama. Thanks to Auburn’s loss Georgia, in which they became completely decimated by injuries, Bama clinched the Sec wetst and a spot in the title game. Even if Auburn was to get healthy enough to upset the Tide, all Alabama has to do is win in Atlanta to get in.

The second spot will go to Clemson. The Tigers were upset Saturday but benefitted from everybody else being upset as well. The Tigers need to just win out to secure a playoff spot. Maybe their loss will serve as a wake-up call and they will now begin to play every week like they did against Louisville and Florida State.

The Big Ten is becoming a tricky situation. Ohio State has now woken up and looks like the clear best team in the conference, but do not control their own destiny. If Michigan loses to Ohio State and Penn State wins out, then Penn State will go to the conference title game due to their fluke head to head win over Ohio State. However, even if that happens, Penn State will probably lose to Wisconsin in the title game. Then, Ohio State will most likely go over the Badgers despite them being the big ten champion given that Ohio State won the head to head and has one less loss. However, if Penn State does pull a miracle then things could get interesting.

The final spot I believe will go to Louisville, which means the ACC will be the first team to get two teams in. The Big 12 is virtually eliminated and the Pac 12’s betst chance is Washington. The Huskies looked pitiful against USC and with a possible rematch going to happen in the Pac 12 title game, the Huskies are looking at another loss. Louisville’s only loss was a hard fought contest to Clemson in possibly the most exciting game this season. It will be hard to shut away the Cardinals and probable Heisman winner Lamar Jackson if they win out.