Seven teams across college football still have a chance to compete for the national championship. It’s "win and in" for most teams, but several have to play each other this week and next.
The top four teams currently in the playoffs
1. Alabama (11-0): Health and healing are the early Christmas wishes for the Crimson Tide. Injuries have taken a toll on the Alabama defense, but the players who needed to recover got their chance with an easy victory over Mercer 56-0. Over the course of the season, Alabama has been the best team in the country, but the Iron Bowl is no ordinary game, and Auburn is the most talented team that the Crimson Tide have faced.
All things being equal, Alabama should pull off the win, but "The Kick-Six" remains part of college football lore.
2. Miami (10-0) The fairy tale season continued for the Hurricanes after their second-half comeback over Virginia. Miami faces Pittsburgh this Friday (Nov. 24) on the road. This is the Hurricanes' first game out of South Florida since late October and the final game before they’ll face Clemson in the ACC Championship. Because of Miami’s unblemished record so far this season, a loss to Pittsburgh isn’t necessarily a game-changer, but two wins in the next two weeks guarantees the Hurricanes a spot in the final four.
3. Clemson (10-1): Clemson steamrolled a cupcake opponent last Saturday (Nov.
18) 61-3. South Carolina (8-3) is a formidable opponent and an in-state rival, but the Tigers should prevail and play their way in or out of the playoffs in the ACC Championship game.
4. Oklahoma (10-1): Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman favorite Baker Mayfield has been benched for the start of the West Virginia game because of his antics on the sidelines against Kansas.
Will it be a play? A series? A quarter? No one seems to know. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley isn’t going to jeopardize the game to prove a point. Whether the Sooners start off strong or not, expect Mayfield to get in early and continue his Heisman-level of play.
Teams on the outside looking in
5. Wisconsin (11-0) The Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Badgers’ upcoming opponent, are 2-6 in the Big Ten, so this week should be a flyover game until Wisconsin’s conference championship game against Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have an outside prayer of propelling themselves into the final four, but about a dozen different things have to go right.
6. Auburn (9-2) Following Auburn’s second loss of the season to LSU on October 16th, their chances for a spot in the playoffs appeared almost non-existent, but the schedule broke perfectly for the Tigers to keep their hopes alive and they’ve taken care of business on the field. Auburn took down a number one team (Georgia) two weeks ago and have a chance to do so again this Saturday against Alabama.
7. Georgia (10-1) The Bulldogs bounced back from their first loss of the season to take down Kentucky 41-13. Georgia has secured a spot in the SEC Championship against the winner of the Iron Bowl (Auburn/Alabama). With three teams in the top seven, it would be stunning for an SEC team not to make the final four, but the real question is: If Alabama loses this week, is it possible for the conference to get two?
