NCAA Football

Top 5 College Football Playoff Scenarios

Top 5 College Football Playoff Scenarios

nick saban
Marvin Gentry - USA TODAY Sports

With the top three teams in the College Football Playoff Rankings taking care of business in their regular season finales this week, the top of the rankings should be pretty static heading into championship week. But with the Mississippi State Bulldogs dropping the Egg Bowl, the fourth position for the playoff is up for grabs. Assuming the top teams avoid upsets in their conference title games this week, here are the top scenarios for the CFP.

5. Arizona Wildcats

 Anu Solomon
Casey Sapio - USA TODAY Sports

5. Arizona Wildcats

 Anu Solomon
Casey Sapio - USA TODAY Sports

Arizona has been the only team to solve the Oregon offense this season and they will get another shot at them in the Pac-12 title game. If the Wildcats prove their earlier upset was no fluke and bring home the conference title, they could upset the Playoff picture and punch their ticket into the national title tournament.

4. Wisconsin Badgers

wisconsin
Jeff Hanisch - USA TODAY Sports

4. Wisconsin Badgers

wisconsin
Jeff Hanisch - USA TODAY Sports

No player has been as impressive this season as Melvin Gordon out of the Wisconsin backfield. He has carried the Badgers to a 10-2 regular season record and a spot in the Big Ten title game against Ohio State. With an impressive showing against the Buckeyes, Wisconsin will have a very strong case for making the cut for the College Football Playoff.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

 ohio state
Greg Bartram - USA TODAY Sports

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

 ohio state
Greg Bartram - USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State overcame an injury to their starting quarterback in fall camp and an early loss to Virginia Tech to put themselves in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation. They finished out their Big Ten schedule with a strong win over rival Michigan, but lost JT Barrett, the QB who has led the Buckeyes to their 11-1 regular season. They have major questions to answer without Barrett ahead of their showdown with Wisconsin.

2. Baylor Bears

baylor
Jerome Miron - USA TODAY Sports

2. Baylor Bears

baylor
Jerome Miron - USA TODAY Sports

Baylor has the inside track to win the Big 12 title this season if they can handle their business against Kansas State in the season finale. As a conference champion with a victory over top-10 TCU, they have a very strong case to make as a College Football Playoff participant .

1. TCU Horned Frogs

tcu
Brendan Maloney - USA TODAY Sports

1. TCU Horned Frogs

 tcu
Brendan Maloney - USA TODAY Sports

Sitting at No. 5 in the last College Football Playoff Rankings, TCU is the obvious choice to fill out the top four heading into this final week. But will a season-finale against Iowa State be enough to cap off their resume and keep them ahead of the other teams in contention for the College Football Playoff, including a Baylor team with a head-to-head victory against them?

Share Tweet