The road map to the College Football Playoff

Will not having one once again hurt the best team in the Big 12? Pittsburgh, which was among the leading vote-getters outside the top 25 in both major polls, won’t be arriving to provide another significant supplement to Notre Dame’s strength of schedule.

After some dramatic late-game (mis)management on both sides, Conrad Ukropina’s 45-yard field goal sailed through the uprights to set off a raucous celebration on the Farm. Not sexy, but if the undefeated Hawkeyes beat Michigan State for all the Big Ten marbles, don’t worry about their lack of prettiness, embrace what would be an unbelievable story.

There were still some things up in the air heading into Saturday, but there are fewer questions now. It could have been another quality win for Notre Dame’s critics to consider.

There’s one spot that Stanford. Clemson’s in a win-and-you’re-in scenario. Florida State 305 10. Oklahoma are harder to keep out, unlike Baylor or TCU.

Expect final arguments for Florida and North Carolina to be summarily rejected by the presiding judges. Even one of those two upsets happening may leave enough room for Stanford to get in. It does add a dash of interest to championship week. In an interview last spring, playoff selection head Jeff Long lifted the shades somewhat on the process by which the committee made its final decision past year.

Maryland: The Terrapins were down 31-13 to Rutgers at half time, and staged a memorable comeback for a 46-41 win in one of the wildest games of the weekend. Interestingly, Broncos tailback Jay Ajayi shared the award previous year with Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon.

It’s looking like the Fighting Irish will be without their top running back for Saturday’s game. Interestingly, that player, Tyler Ervin, is just 20 miles down the road at San Jose State. Mission accomplished. Perine averaged 7.4 yards per carry and 145.2 yards per game in the final six regular-season games, with 12 touchdowns. The Nittany Lions and Sun Devils also finished tied for 119th in sacks allowed with 39. The Horned Frogs also limited Baylor to 62 yards passing Friday, the Bears’ lowest total since 2002.

Photo of Urban Meyer by Adam Glanzman.

The victor of the Big Ten title game (Michigan State vs. Iowa) is nearly certainly headed to the semifinals.

Big 10 Championship Game loser: Iowa or Michigan State will have to settle for a Rose Bowl berth.

Oklahoma has no need to campaign, but the Sooners improved to 5-0 against AP Top 25 opponents this year at the time of competition. Barely scraping by underachieving rival SC on Saturday won’t knock Clemson from its lofty perch, mainly because the Tigers are one of only two remaining unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, what we all used to call Division I. Once-beaten Ohio State would be in.

Blood. There will be blood.

How did Florida get in over MI in 2006 and Alabama win it all in 2011 without winning its own division in the SEC?

“I think the money is too great for the playoffs not to eventually expand to eight teams”, Deitsch says.

Sorry for doubting you, Houston.

Especially on the defensive side, the Cougars were excellent, holding the Navy ground game to just 147 yards, and forcing quarterback Keenan Reynolds to throw much more than ever before. Ohio State still has a very good chance of making a New Year’s Six bowl game and perhaps even an outside shot at reaching the Playoff should chaos break out this weekend. There is no loss on Iowa’s resume, but that has more to do with the program’s inability to face anyone relevant to the College Football Playoff picture than anything else.