Welcome to the Read & Reaction College Football Playoff tracker!
Each week, we will update which teams are still standing in the college football race, who is technically alive, but unlikely to make it, and which teams have joined the dreaded ranks of the eliminated.
SEC
In control of their own destiny: Georgia, Kentucky, and Alabama
Technically alive but unlikely: Ole Miss
Eliminated: Auburn, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Texas A&M, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina
The good news for Texas A&M: Jimbo Fisher finally beats Nick Saban. The bad news: It comes on the heels of two SEC losses and will go down as nice memory and significant step for the Aggies program in the Fisher era, but not much more.
Last week’s victory over Ole Miss keeps Saban in the Tide in firm control of their own destiny within the SEC and the College Football Playoff races respectively. The Rebels managed to survive an electric survival game by denying Sam Pittman and the Hogs’ two-point conversion attempt in the final moments of the game. Should Kiffin’s squad run the table, they may find their way to Atlanta if Alabama stumbles again – Ole Miss travels to Rocky Top to square off against the red-hot Tennessee offense.
Kentucky built a 21-0 lead over LSU to cruise to 6-0. The Wildcats will likely come back to Earth after this weekend’s road trip to Athens, but should Kentucky pull off the monumental upset, the Wildcats could potentially vault to the top of the polls. Georgia continues to roll after toying with Auburn for a quarter.
Key Games This Week:
- #11 Kentucky at #1 Georgia
- #5 Alabama at Mississippi State
- #13 Ole Miss at Tennessee
ACC
Embed from Getty ImagesIn control of their own destiny: Wake Forest
Technically alive but unlikely: Pitt and NC State
Eliminated: Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Miami, and Duke.
Wake Forest continues to be the ACC’s best hope at a playoff spot, but the Demon Deacons were taken to the limit by Syracuse, getting by with a 40-37 OT victory in the Carrier Dome. It may be fleeting moment, but expect the Deacs to be a part of the playoff conversation into November with an upcoming schedule Army and Duke after this weekend’s bye.
One-loss Pitt and NC State both had the week off, but their records keep them in the hunt for the moment.
Key Games This Week:
- #22 NC State at Boston College
- Pitt at Virginia tech
Big Ten
In control of their own destiny: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State
Technically alive but unlikely: N/A
Eliminated: Maryland, Indiana, Rutgers, Minnesota, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, and Northwestern.
Iowa climbs to No. 2 in the polls with a massive Top 5 home win over Penn State. The Hawkeyes have a great chance to run the table: vs Purdue, at Wisconsin, at Northwestern, vs Minnesota, vs Illinois, and at Nebraska before the Big Ten title game.
Despite the loss, Penn State still maintains full control of its own destiny with upcoming games against Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State.
Michigan handled their business on the road against a suddenly ultra-competitive Cornhuskers team. Lincoln was loud on Saturday night and Nebraska did not let Michigan run away with it forcing the Wolverines to respond time and again. Fortunately for the Fightin’ Harbaughs, a late fumble set-up the game winning field goal to preserve an unbeaten season. Is it time to take Michigan seriously? Let’s hold of on judging anything until their end of the month showdown with fellow unbeaten, Michigan State. Should Sparty get by Indiana this weekend, they’ll have a bye week to prepare for Michigan’s trip to East Lansing.
The attention may be on the undefeated squads, but Ohio State is still lurking after a blowout win over Maryland. Ohio State will continue to quietly toil as they prep for an October 30 matchup with Penn State.
Key Games This Week:
- #10 Michigan State at Indiana
- Purdue at #2 Iowa
Big XII
In control of their own destiny: Oklahoma and Oklahoma State
Technically alive but unlikely: Baylor
Eliminated: Texas, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Kansas, and West Virginia
Welcome to the ranks of the eliminated, Texas! Oklahoma produced what will likely go down as the comeback of the season by pulling the struggled Spencer Rattler for Caleb Williams. Texas ran its lead to 41-23 with under three minutes left in the third quarter before allowing the Sooners to score four touchdowns and a field goal in five of their final six drives of regulation. The Longhorns and the nation suffered for it as an underwhelming OU team continues to maintain its status as a front-runner in the Big XII and stays in contention for a playoff spot. Oklahoma’s luck may soon end, but if the Sooners beat TCU this weekend, they’ll run the table til their final three game test: at Baylor, vs Iowa State, and at Oklahoma State.
I refuse to take Oklahoma State seriously, but road wins at Texas and Iowa State in the next two weeks could sway my opinion.
Baylor quietly bounced back from its first loss of the year with a big 45-20 win against West Virginia. The Bears face a daunting stretch of BYU, Texas, TCU, and Oklahoma in the next month. While that schedule may be tough, it’s allowing Baylor to maintain full control over their own destiny.
Key Games This Week:
- #22 Oklahoma State at #25 Texas
- #19 BYU at Baylor
- TCU at #4 Oklahoma
Pac-12
In control of their own destiny: Arizona State and Oregon
Technically alive but unlikely: N/A
Eliminated: Oregon State, Stanford, Washington State, Washington, Cal, Utah, UCLA, USC, Colorado, and Arizona
Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils followed up a big win against UCLA with another quality win vs Stanford. The loss to BYU will keep ASU under the radar, but should Arizona State take care of business on the road at Utah this weekend, the Sun Devils should be clear favorites down the stretch: vs Washington State, vs USC, at Washington, at Oregon State, and vs Arizona.
Oregon State managed to work its way into the eliminated column with a loss on the road at Washington State. The Beavers are a good story and if they keep it, look for head coach Jonathan Smith to get an opportunity elsewhere this offseason.
The Ducks remain in the playoff hunt thanks to their early season win in Columbus. Should Oregon run the table, they will have a spot in the playoff. Oregon looks to avenge a 2020 loss against Cal on Friday night then heads to the Rose Bowl to face UCLA next weekend.
Key Games This Week:
- Cal at #9 Oregon
- #18 Arizona State at Utah
Group of Five/Independent
In control of their own destiny: Cincinnati
Technically alive but unlikely: Coastal Carolina
Eliminated: BYU
The Bearcats looked like a Top 5 team in a 52-3 beatdown over Temple on Saturday. Though UCF has dropped two games already, the Knights, which have posed trouble for Cincy in the past, head to Nippert Stadium on Saturday to offer one final test on the front half of the schedule. With more Top 5 teams falling, the Bearcats now hold the No. 3 ranking and should be a shoe in for the playoff should they run the table.
BYU bowed out of the playoff race this weekend with a home loss to Boise State. A year after announcing their playoff contention on the blue turf in Boise, the Broncos traveled to Provo and knocked the Cougs out of any real shot at a spot in the playoff.
Coastal Carolina continues to run the table with a 52-20 win over Butch Jones and Arkansas State. Tune in next Wednesday (Oct. 20) to see if the Chanticleers can keep it going against Appalachian State. Though they continue to be a great story, the Coastal strength of schedule simply does not have enough juice to warrant anything other than distant playoff conversation. Should the teams ahead of them in the polls start racking up two losses and we have a 2007-like scenario on our hands later in the season, Coastal Carolina may find a way to become a more serious contender.
Key Games This Week:
- UCF at #3 Cincinnati
- Coastal Carolina BYE (NEXT: 10/20 at App State)