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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 1564346, member: 289"] I will once again chart the future challenges of the undefeated in major college football. Once November comes I’ll include the one-loss teams. We now have a four team playoff, (maybe someday we’ll move to 8 with auto bids for the Power Five champions), so more of these teams will continue to have a chance until the very end of the regular season. I’ll limit my coverage to ranked teams. (For fun I’ll also keep track of the teams eligible for the Pesci Bowl, the top mid-majors in the country and the Tydee Bowl, which decides the worst team in the country, although I’ll not spend as much time on them. I think I’ll do a four team playoff for them, too.) A note on rankings: the first is the ranking of the AP (writer’s) poll, then the USA Today (coach’s) poll the ESPN power ranking and finally College Football Playoff Committee, (which won’t start until November 3rd). The total is based on a 25 points for 1st, 24 for 2nd, etc. system. They are listed in order of that total. (Shortcut- if they are ranked in all the polls: add the rankings and subtract from 78 or 104 once the committee joins in.) I’ll also include the team’s points “Against Ranked Teams” from my latest post of that title, their won-lost record and their points for and against. I’ll supply the same info in the same format for each future opponent. CLEMSON 11-0 (418-194) 42 ART rank: 1-1-1-1 total: 100 Sat 11/28 at South Carolina 3-8 (231-293) 5 ART not ranked Comments: I know it’s a rivalry game but I highly doubt South Carolina will upset Clemson’s apple cart. You can argue about whether they should be #1 but there can be no argument they should be in a playoff if thyey win that and ACC title and once you are in, it’s all about beating the team in front of you. The opinions no longer matter. IOWA 11-0 (376-204) 47 ART rank: 4-3-3-5 total: 89 Fri 11/27 at Nebraska 5-6 (370-305) 20 ART not ranked Comments: There is no question they are in the playoff either: you enter it when (a) you can’t afford a loss and (b0 if you just keeping beating the team in front you, you’ll be national champion. They can’t afford to lose to Nebraska or in the Big Ten title game – or in the semi-finals or in the finals. But if they win them all, they’ve got their first ever title. Again, you can line your bird cage with the opinions. ONE LOSS POWER CONFERENCE TEAMS (I’m assuming that a one loss non-power conference team will have no shot at the playoff.) ALABAMA 10-1 (385-159) 182 ART rank: 3-2-2-2 total: 95 11/28 at Auburn 6-5 (313-299) 23 ART not ranked Comments: They looked like Alabama again against LSU and Mississippi State, winning the game in the trenches. You’ve gotta like the Tide to be in the playoff. The most undefeated power conference champions we could have is three and the Tide would surely be the #1 one loss team if they win out. OKLAHOMA 10-1 (491-226) 72 ART rank: 3-5-5-3 total: 88 Sat 11/28 at Oklahoma State 10-1 (471-290) 448 ART rank: 4-4-5 total: Comments: I think Sooners are the best of the Big Eight’s Big Four. They looked it at Baylor. They lost Mayfield vs. TCU but still pulled it out. Can they do it at Oklahoma State?The Cowboys can still save their season and they will be determined to bounce back after losing to Baylor. And they don’t want to lose their chance to the Sooners. Bedlam has never bene this loud. NOTRE DAME 10-1 (381-231) 41 ART rank: 6-4-4-6 total: 84 11/28 at Stanford 9-2 (405-242) 59 ART rank: 15-15-16 total: Comments: Notre Dame took a hit when Stanford lost to Oregon. That game could still be a step up but now a much lesser one. Will it be enough to be Notre Dame when the other teams are not? Maybe they should join a power conference so they could win one and get the respect that accomplishment deserves? OHIO STATE 10-1 (378-155) 14 points against ranked teams (ART) rank: 8-8-8-8 total: 72 Sat 11/28 at Michigan 9-2 (354-164) 101 ART rank: 14-13-15 total: Comments: Maybe Zeke Elliott was right. But this team can still make it all the way. They have to beat Michigan, hope the Michigan State stumbles at Penn State and then beat Iowa. That’s a lot but those things can still happen, if they can pull themselves together as a team. OKLAHOMA STATE 10-1 (471-290) 44 ART rank 11-9-10-10 total: 64 Sat 11/28 Oklahoma 10-1 (491-226) 72 ART rank: 7-7-7 total: Comments: Beat Oklahoma, (preferably BIG) and hope it’s enough. That’s it for the Cowboys. A conference title game would have helped them climb the ladder. The Big 12 Commissioner needs to start calling Provo and Boise. FLORIDA 10-1 (301-159) 64 ART rank: 12-10-9-13 total: 60 Sat 11/28 Florida State 9-2 (361-187) 15 ART rank: 16-16-14 total: Comments: 9-7 over Vanderbilt. Ugh. 20-14 over Florida Atlantic. Double Ugh. Here comes Florida State and probably Alabama in the SEC title game. But what if they somehow win both of those? Hmmm… MICHIGAN STATE 10-1 (346-237) 66 ART rank: 5-6-6-3 total: 84 Sat 11/28 Penn State 7-4 (268-205) 4 ART not ranked Comments: The Spartans got ripped off at Nebraska with a call that everybody in the country but the refs knew was a bad call. Now they have beaten mighty Ohio State. But they can’t ignore Penn State, (just like Iowa can’t ignore Nebraska) and then need to win the Big Ten title game. They’ve just been scrapping by all season, (Michigan should have been their loss, not Nebraska). Can they keep doing it? (And would their OC like to be a head coach?) BAYLOR 9-1 (538-279) 34 ART rank: 7-7-7-7 total: 76 Fri 11/27 at Texas Christian 9-2 (472-292) 18 ART rank: 11-11-12 total: Sat 12/ 5 Texas 4-6 (249-299) 23 ART not ranked Comments: Hey! Remember these guys? They just knocked off the Cowboys to keep their hopes alive. They are unlikely to match last year’s 62-59 classic with both starting QBs out but they can pick up some brownie points for a win. Watch out for Texas- Oklahoma can tell you about them. I just think they are too far down in the standings to make it although they could be in a New Year’s Day bowl. (I’m hoping somebody matches them up with Oregon- wouldn’t that be fun?) NORTH CAROLINA 10-1 (450-215) 10 ART rank: 14-11-11-11 Total: 57 11/28 at North Carolina State 7-4 (370-240) 8 ART Comments: Like Iowa , the Tar Heels have snuck up on people this year. They have their most wins since Mack Brown was there, (1997). They can sure score, putting up 66 points on a Duke team that thought they were pretty good and then 59 on a Miami team that was once great. They lost their opener to South Carolina, 13-17 and are 10-0 (437-198) since. Being in the weak coastal division, I’m not sure how good- or great - they really are but if they beat Clemson, (and off of what I saw in the Dome, I wouldn’t be shocked if they did it), shouldn’t they be in the mix for the playoff? How about a Tar Heel-Hawkeye championship game? Top non-power conference teams, (in contention for the Joe Pesci Bowl: we’re not big but don’t’ mess with us!), Houston 10-1, Toledo 9-1, Navy 9-1, Appalachian State 8-2, Marshall 9-2, Temple 9-2 and Western Kentucky 9-2. Trying to avoid the Tydee Bowl: Central Florida 0-11 and Kansas 0-11 Also: Eastern Michigan 1-10, Louisiana-Monroe 1-10, North Texas 1-10, Wyoming 1-10. [/QUOTE]

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