Saturday, November 14, 2015

Path to CFB Playoffs -- Notre Dame vs. Big XII


With Stanford and Utah's loss this evening -- the PAC 12 is done when it comes to sending a team to the College Football Playoff -- it robs Notre Dame of a season ending signature win -- and, it opens the door for an undefeated Oklahoma State to jump ND into the top Playoff if they remain that way.

Here's where I see things with two weeks left in the regular season for the top teams:

These THREE PLAYOFF SPOTS are a given -- in my opinion:
  • ACC Champ:  CFB Playoff spot if it's Clemson or North Carolina
  • Big Ten Champ:  CFB Playoff spot if it's Ohio State, Michigan State or Iowa
  • SEC Champ:  Alabama

So, the fourth team in the PLAYOFF will come down to Notre Dame -- if they win their next two games -- OR, one of these two teams from the Big XII:
  • Oklahoma State -- if they win both, they're in / ND is out
    • vs. Baylor 
    • vs. Oklahoma
  • Oklahoma -- if they win both -- it will come down to (see analysis below)
    • vs. TCU
    • @ Oklahoma State

If Oklahoma and Notre Dame both end up 11 - 1 on the season, it will come down to a College Football Playoff Committee vote against teams with these resumes:

Oklahoma:
  • Wins over ranked teams:  (3)  Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State
  • Opponent's WIN/LOSS Record as of 11/14/15:  63 - 53
  • Strength of Schedule Rank:  #21
  • Common opponent:  Lost to Texas 24 - 17
  • Record of team that beat them as of 11/14/15:  4 - 6

Notre Dame:
  • Wins over ranked teams:  (5)  USC, Navy, Temple, Pitt and Stanford
  • Opponent's WIN/LOSS Record as of 11/14/15:  67 - 53
  • Strength of Schedule Rank:  #5
  • Common opponent:  Beat Texas 38 - 3
  • Record of team that beat them as of 11/14/15:  10 - 0

So -- what does this all mean:
  1. We must win both of our games.
  2. Oklahoma State needs to lose one of their remaining games.
  3. If both happen -- WE ARE IN THE PLAYOFF!