Who is Still Alive: Week 7

Huge Changes! Huge, but foreseeable. Mississippi State has looked like the number one team since beating LSU. Their consistency just proves it.

A few teams fall off, but not much. UCLA is basically out. Even if they come back and win the whole Pac-12 it seems very unlikely they'd still get a spot. The Pac-12 would look vert weak if UCLA won it. That being said, Arizona hangs on by a thread. If they won out and won the Pac-12 there could be some chance they get in.

The Big 12 is a little more muddled. Baylor is a lock if they win the Big 12. But then there's three teams with a chance left, including Kansas State (who would have a good chance with winning out). Oklahoma is still a great team, but would need to look good the rest of the year winning out, including beating Baylor. TCU still looked good after it's loss to the Baylor, but now needs help from Oklahoma losing again and Baylor losing at least once, but more likely twice. If OU beats Baylor, it would be a three way mess for the committee to figure out. Also, Kansas State plays the Sooners this week, that game could have an impact later on because Baylor goes to Manhattan, Kansas at the end of the season.

Then there's the ACC. Florida State is now the ACC's one shot to get into the playoff. It seems pretty likely that they're going to win it. But they have Notre Dame looming this week in what could be a Semi-Final match. If Notre Dame loses they are most likely out. If Florida State loses they will be holding on by a thread hoping for some help from other conferences.

The SEC is looking clearer and clearer. The season is far from over and both Mississippi schools still have tough games to play. The Bulldogs still have Alabama and a rising Arkansas team. And while we're at it, Kentucky has already played spoiler once, look for them to do it again.
Then of course Ole Miss and Mississippi State still play each other at the end of the year. Ole Miss also still has Auburn and Arkansas, not mention LSU. All of those games seem manageable, but there is always room for a down week.

Look for some more craziness because of the teams left undefeated in the Power 5, only Baylor doesn't play anyone else there. FSU and Notre Dame this week and Ole Miss-MSU at the end of the year. If Notre Dame pulls out a squeker and FSU still looks good, there is a scenario where two Power 5 Conferences are left out with Notre Dame taking a spot. Then imagine if the ND-FSU game happened that way and the the Egg Bowl is a squeaker and the winner then wins the SEC...and if Baylor loses bad....imagine Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Miss State and Florida State being in the playoff. Only TWO Power 5 Conferences would be represented! Unlikely, but possible.


Teams Left Alive
Florida State
Baylor
Notre Dame
Ole Miss
Mississippi State

Teams With an Outside Chance
Oklahoma
TCU
Kansas State
Arizona
Oregon
Ohio State
Michigan State
Marshall
Georgia
Auburn
Alabama

Where hasn't College Game Day Been?

Hard to believe that College Game Day is at Ole Miss for the first time. It was one of only two spots CGD has missed in the SEC. Where is the other place? Not too far up the road.....Mississippi State.

Here's the other places they have yet to set up shop in the Power 5 Conferences. It's clear to see why teams on the list remain. They're the usual bottom feeders in their conference. For most of these colleges it will probably be a while till College Game Day shows up on campus.

ACC
Wake Forest
Virginia
Duke
Syracuse
Louisville

Big Ten
Illinois
Indiana
Rutgers
Maryland
Minnesota

Big 12
Kansas
Iowa State
Baylor

Pac-12
Cal
Washington State

SEC
Mississippi State


Here's probably the most likely teams CGD could get to the rest of the season:

Miss State - with a win over LSU already and a contender in the SEC West, this seems like the year for CGD to visit Starkville. Maybe next week when Auburn comes to town or on Nov 1 when the host Arkansas.

Baylor - Brand new stadium doesn't hurt their chances, especially the way they're playing. Next week with TCU coming could be a possibility or Nov 22 when Oklahoma State arrives in Waco when maybe both teams will be ranked. Also Nov 29 when Texas Tech comes or an outside chance on Dec 6 when Kansas State visits and there could be championship implications, although with so many championship games that week it is a long shot.

Minnesota - If the Gophers keep winning in the Big Ten, there could be a chance CGD visits toward the end of the year when they host Iowa and Ohio State.