Who is Still Alive: Week 8

Remarkably, Notre Dame loses and they still stay in the hunt. That's because they took FSU down to 13 seconds and had the game ripped out of their hands by a controversial call. And if the Irish run the table they look like they could still snag a spot. The options of them running the table now and not getting in depend on a couple things. If FSU stops winning those close games and starts losing them, then Notre Dame's loss will look all the worse. Then if Oregon runs the table, wins the Pac-12 and looks amazing doing it, alongside a TCU or Baylor as the champ of the Big-12 and either looking amazing doing it, or if Ohio State/Michigan State keeps silently looking good and wins the Big-10....then Notre Dame is up against 3 One-Loss Conference Champions (two of which would also have won an extra game in their conference championship). Then also, if Florida State loses a game but wins the ACC then that would be 4 One-Loss Conference Champions. The other option is the SEC having two teams in the playoff, that's one less Conference Champ to let in.

Back to the Big 12. It's a little bit of a mess now, thanks to Oklahoma losing. The Sooners are out. Two losses in the Big 12 is a deal-breaker, with the quality of teams around the country and the number of 1 loss teams left, they're out for the Playoff. If they win the Big 12 that would mean K-State and TCU would need to lose 3 times and Baylor lose to Oklahoma. Oklahoma still could get into one of the Big Bowls, but even that seems less likely now. Baylor's Playoff hopes now hang by a thread. They're still in the Second Tier because there is potentially a very outside chance they get back in. They'd have to win out and look good and gets lots of help from Conference Champions having more than one loss and the SEC eating itself alive with the SEC West's non-winner having lots of losses.

As it stands now, here's what seems like the most likely outcome for the 4 teams.
Florida State wins the ACC and is undefeated. Louisville could be a tricky game because they're in transition, have talent and have the ability to pick off a better team, if that team is overlooking them.
Either Ole Miss or Mississippi State is in. They both get to the Egg Bowl undefeated then the winner goes on to win the SEC.
Oregon gets better and better looking as they get back to healthy. They destroy the South counterpart(whether it's ASU, USC or UCLA again), and look like the 2nd best Conference Champion.
TCU keeps winning and wins the Big 12. They get in as a conference champion and because of their great defense. This 4th spot will be the controversial one, because either Ohio State or Michigan State could be a 1 loss champion and is left out.

Left Out
Ohio State/Michigan State - Either of these teams will probably have the most legitimate claim(if they don't lose another game) But Ohio State has that awful loss to Virgina Tech, and Oregon beat MSU
Alabama/Auburn/Loser of the Egg Bowl - one of these teams will have a legitimate complaint, but the Conference Champions will look so much better by year's end
Notre Dame - They could be the first team out, losing out to Conference Champions
Marshall - just not enough of a quality schedule, even going undefeated


Teams Left Alive
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
Florida State
Notre Dame


Teams With A Chance
TCU
Kansas State
Baylor
Arizona
Oregon
Ohio State
Michigan State
Marshall
Georgia
Auburn
Alabama