By: George Ahearn

As the college football season rounds the final corner, the playoff picture becomes clearer by the week. Tennessee and North Carolina found themselves as the latest casualties to the brutality that is college football, as Tennessee was routed by unranked South Carolina and UNC experienced an epic collapse to Georgia Tech after leading 17-0. Losses by teams once considered playoff contenders have continually built up, and now we’re left with only a handful of teams who have a fighting chance to find themselves in the coveted four come the final playoff rankings. Here are my rankings of the seven teams which I believe have a chance based on how I feel their playoff odds stack up against each other, and I’ve included a “security” level for each team in regards to their playoff spot. 

1. Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs defeated Kentucky on the road by a final score of 16-6. The Bulldogs offense sputtered, putting up a measly one touchdown. However, what won the ‘Dawgs their championship last year is still the driving force: the defense. Led by defensive tackle Jalen Carter and cornerback Kelee Ringo, this Georgia defense has been stout all year, and the combination of this unit and an efficient offense has the ‘Dawgs sitting as the top ranked squad with an 11-0 record. Georgia finishes the season with “rival” Georgia Tech and no. 6 LSU in the SEC Championship, and it would take a loss in both games for Kirby Smart’s team to play themselves out of playoff position. 

Security: Locked

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State remains undefeated and dominant. They did have a minor setback this week – shockingly losing to Maryland at halftime – yet they still went on to win the game 43-30. Ohio State has flown under the radar – relatively, of course – all season, mainly due to Georgia’s utter dominance, but also because everyone expects them to beat whoever their opponent is on any given week. They’ve become boring in a sense.

Ohio State has been a double-digit favorite in every game this season, and they have beaten every team by double-digits. Wins against no. 18 Notre Dame and no. 11 Penn State are the only pieces of Ohio State’s resume that particularly stand out; however, they pass the eye test week after week with the immense amount of talent their roster possesses. While all this is great, the test of the year comes this week as Michigan visits The Shoe. The winner of this game will make the playoff, while the loser will be at the hands of the committee. Win and you’ve secured your spot off of college football’s greatest rivalry – is there anything else a fan of these two schools could ask for?

Security: It’s up to you, but you also might get lucky

3. Michigan Wolverines

Bret Bielema’s Fighting Illini gave the Wolverines a run for their money for the first time this past week, a game that the latter won on a last second field goal. Michigan is in a similar position to Ohio State, an undefeated team with a slightly worse resume. However, judging between the superior track record is irrelevant in this case, as the two rivals will play each other in the final week of the season to determine who will play in the B10 Championship, and inevitably who will secure a playoff spot.

I will say, however, that the belief from the committee is that Michigan isn’t as good as Ohio State, as they have been ranked behind them all season. Therefore, it is more important for Michigan to win “The Game” this upcoming Saturday to keep their playoff chances steady. However, a one-loss Michigan can easily find themselves in the playoff.

Security: It’s up to you, but you also might get lucky 

4. TCU Horned Frogs

The Horned Frogs seem to possess the magic that fuels unexpected playoff runs, as they narrowly escaped an upset bid once again – this time on the road at Baylor. The Horned Frogs’ playoff outlook is simple: win and you’re in – a motto it seems they’ve been following all season and one that has led them to their undefeated record – despite endless nail-biting games. They finish their season at home against a disappointing, yet gritty Iowa State team before facing either no. 15 Kansas State or no. 24 Texas in the Big 12 Championship.

While many doubt the Horned Frogs’ legitimacy, you cannot deny the facts. What facts, you may ask? Well, TCU is undefeated in the Big 12, a performance that has always been rewarded with a playoff spot. What is unfortunate for TCU is that this is a relatively weak year for the B12. Currently, Kansas State is the only other ranked team within the conference, and a TCU loss in the championship game or a setback to Iowa State could result in them missing out on the playoffs. However, I believe as long as they win their conference championship game, we will see TCU in the playoff for the first time in history. 

Security: Solid

5. USC Trojans

The USC Trojans find themselves in the most legitimate playoff contention they’ve been in all year. The rest of the PAC-12 has two losses and USC just picked up a massive win against cross-town rival UCLA to improve their record to 10-1. Caleb Williams has his squad playing ball like a top 4 team, but the Trojans still have challenges looming ahead over the next two weeks.

They have a home game against no. 18 Notre Dame – who seems to have rallied under Marcus Freeman after early-season struggles – before playing either no. 10 Oregon, no. 12 Washington, or no. 14 Utah in the PAC-12 title game. If USC is to win out, they will almost certainly be in the playoff, jumping most likely the loser of the Michigan v. Ohio State game. While the road is daunting, Trojan fans must feel ecstatic to hear their name uttered amongst the “big dogs” of college football once again.

Security: Need Perfection, Accomplishable Though

6. Clemson Tigers

Clemson is the team whom no college football fan wants to see in the playoff. They’ve been a top 10 team all year, yet it seems the infamous “eye test” proves to viewers as well as the committee that this team is not one of the top four in the nation. Yet, with the help of some late season chaos, Clemson nevertheless can find themselves in the playoff. With only one loss – a horrid one to Notre Dame on the road – the Tigers have a solid resume.

However, the ACC is incredibly weak and only has one other ranked team at the moment in North Carolina, whose loss to Georgia Tech potentially hurts Clemson’s resume (when they take on the ‘Heels in the ACC Championship).  Nonetheless, this is college football, and late season drama involving a TCU loss, a USC loss, or a blowout of either Michigan or Ohio State in their matchup against each other could see the Tigers through to the playoff.

Security: Need Perfection and Chaos

7. LSU Tigers

Ah, the most polarizing player of the playoff contenders, the LSU Tigers. After starting their season with a loss to Florida State and then being routed by Tennessee at home, Tiger fans had already dismissed the Brian Kelly hire and were clamoring for Coach O’s return. However, Kelly rallied his team after bounce-back wins over Alabama and Ole Miss to win the SEC West, and now will see themselves face Georgia in the SEC Championship.

If LSU takes care of business this week against Texas A&M, then an SEC title game against Georgia would set them up for an opportunity to be the first two-loss team to make the playoff. Being champions of the SEC – the most dominant conference this year – and beating the most dominant team this year – Georgia – would undoubtedly result in LSU cracking the top four come selection day: a scenario no college football fan is ready for. 

Security: You better start praying if you haven’t been 

These seven teams will battle it out over the last two weeks to see who will earn coveted positions in the College Football Playoff, and a loss at any moment could result in a season’s worth of grind evaporating right before their eyes.