Oregon hangs on; Cincy downs UCF

Rivalry week could create a surprise or two, but it won’t quite pack the same punch as it would in a normal year.

SEC

Contenders: Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M

Eliminated: Georgia, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss

Florida and Alabama continue their marches toward Atlanta with big wins over outmatches foes on Saturday. Texas A&M had the weekend off due to a COVID-related postponement.

The Tide faces Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Saturday before likely wrapping up their regular season with Arkansas on December 5; Florida has two games remaining against Kentucky and Tennessee. I don’t expect the LSU game to be made up for either Bama or Florida.

A&M has had two weeks off, but the Aggies have three games remaining to make their case for a college football playoff spot.

This Week:

Kentucky at #6 Florida
#22 Auburn at #1 Alabama
LSU at #5 Texas A&M

ACC

Embed from Getty Images

Contender: Notre Dame

Perfect run needed: Miami and Clemson

Eliminated: North Carolina, NC State, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Florida State, Virginia, Syracuse, and Duke

Notre Dame had the week off and Clemson was set to take on Florida State before the game was called at the last minute.

So according to reports, Clemson:

*Traveled to Tallahassee
*Passed Covid protocols
*ACC said it was safe for both teams to play
*Clemson was willing to push the game back to Sunday

Florida State refused to play.

Sure sounds like FSU is using Covid as an excuse for PUNKING out https://t.co/edUTAEReYR

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) November 21, 2020

This Week:

#2 Notre Dame at #25 North Carolina (Friday)
Pittsburgh at #4 Clemson

Big XII

Eliminated: Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU, and Kansas.

Big Ten

Embed from Getty Images

Contender(s): Ohio State and Northwestern

Eliminated: Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan, Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

Is Wisconsin likely to qualify for the Big Ten Championship? pic.twitter.com/WkYcbVAETj

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 22, 2020

Valiant efforts from a high-scoring Indiana Hoosiers and a defensive-minded Wisconsin Badgers, but Ohio State and Northwestern emerge from the de facto Big Ten semifinals weekend as the favorites to meet in the Big Ten Championship Game on December 19.

Ohio State will wrap the second half of its season with Illinois, Michigan State, and a Michigan team which needed 3OTs to beat Rutgers. Northwestern finishes with Michigan State, Minnesota, and Illinois.

This Week:

#3 Ohio State at Illinois
#11 Northwestern at Michigan State

Pac-12

Embed from Getty Images

Contender(s): Oregon, Washington, USC, and Colorado

Eliminated: Utah, Cal, Washington State, Arizona, Oregon State, Stanford, Arizona State, and UCLA

USC spared us the drama and handled their business in what would typically be a hostile environment in Salt Lake City. The Trojans are set to square off with unbeaten Colorado in what will likely decide the Pac-12 South.

Oregon escaped its former head coach Chip Kelly to improve to 3-0. This week the Pac-12 announced its members may schedule games outside of conference play. Would the Ducks be willing to take on BYU in a game which could bolster either team’s resume?

Group of Five

American Athletic Conference

Embed from Getty Images

The Bearcats passed a huge test in Orlando last weekend. Pundits are beginning to tout Cincinnati over BYU thanks to a better schedule, however, I’m still not completely sold on this Bearcats team as playoff worthy. BYU seems like a more potent offensive group who would pose a better challenge should a Group of Five team earn a playoff spot.

Independent

Embed from Getty Images

BYU faces a dilemma. If the Cougs feel like they have enough juice to make a run at a College Football Playoff spot, then it makes sense to chase down another game in the next two weeks, preferably with a high profile Pac-12 opponent. However, it’s not a simple choice from BYU’s end.

From BYU reporter, Jay Drew of the Deseret News:

“Obviously, if BYU likes where it is — say in the top 10 or close to it — it might not be willing to take the risk because a loss would knock it out of contention to play in a New Year’s Six bowl game. But if the Cougars are outside the top 12, for example, a win over San Diego State on Dec. 12 probably won’t be enough to give them the bump they would need.”

Oregon hangs on; Cincy downs UCF
Northwestern, USC, and Washington enter the playoff picture

SEC