In a few hours, the College Football Playoff committee will announce its field of four teams. Amid more uproar than usual (basically, because the SEC might not make it), let’s keep this simple.
First, here are the two easiest calls:
- Michigan, 13-0: Undoubtedly the No. 1 seed, snuffing No. 16 Iowa, 26-0, a week after beating Ohio State. After the Wolverines’ season of overlapping dramas, they’re simply the country’s best team to this point.
- Washington, 13-0: Friday night’s 34-31 win over No. 5 Oregon was a heater, one that doubled as the Pac-12’s bittersweet goodbye. The Huskies’ offense can hang with anybody’s.
And here are your choices for the other two spots:
- Florida State, 13-0: Smothered No. 14 Louisville, 16-6. Now will the committee do the unprecedented, snubbing an undefeated power-conference champ, one that beat LSU by more points than Alabama did? The discourse centers on FSU’s QB situation. This team is not the same without the injured Jordan Travis, done for the year.
- Texas, 12-1: They trucked No. 18 Oklahoma State, 49-21, in a circus that included a Dr. Pepper toss controversy, the Big 12 commissioner being booed (for rooting against the conference-realigning Longhorns) and the Undertaker awarding the game’s MVP trophy, a title belt. Most importantly, the Longhorns still boast a 10-point September road win over the eventual SEC champ. Speaking of …
- Alabama, 12-1: Yesterday’s 27-24 win over No. 1 Georgia ends the Dawgs’ three-peat bid, but does it outweigh that loss to the aforementioned Texas (plus the Tide needing convoluted miracles just to beat 6-6 Auburn one weekend ago)?
To me, Bama’s the obvious out. Incredible turnaround, but too many subpar games along the way. That’d make for the first SEC-free Playoff ever, unless you count future SEC team Texas — and surely the last such Playoff, since it’s expanding next year anyway. (Either way, not my problem. Have fun, committee!)
Watch the bracket’s revelation on ESPN at 12:15 p.m. ET, if you want, or just look at any app on your phone a few seconds later. By “any app,” I of course am referring to The Athletic app. |
