Around CFB: Chaos could ensue in fight for fourth playoff spot

There could be chaos.

Lots of it.

Through most of November some marveled at the relatively lack of chaos in college football.

Alabama kept winning. So did Clemson. Notre Dame did, too.

Then, Ohio State blew out Michigan, 62-39, and suddenly there could be more chaos than the College Football Playoff committee has ever seen.

Ohio State, Oklahoma and Georgia are all 11-1. All will play for their respective conference championships on Saturday. All know they must impress the playoff committee.

“I think it’s very important,” Ohio State wide receiver Terry McLaurin said on a teleconference on Monday. “In situations like this, it’s great to get the win because you have a conference championship on your belt.”

“But it’s pretty obvious that the committee looks on how you beat teams and how you look collectively on offense and defense. We just want to build on last week. We feel we have really good momentum going into this game.”

Added defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones: “Now that we know we’re capable of achieving what we just did Saturday we know we have to answer beyond that to convince the committee to go to the playoff.”

But what if chaos breaks out? What if Ohio State, Oklahoma and Georgia all lose?

That scenario isn’t that absurd. Georgia will be an underdog to No. 1 Alabama in the SEC title game. Oklahoma has already lost once to Texas. Therefore, it’s not a stretch that the Sooners could fall again in the Big 12 championship game.

Of course, Ohio State will be favored over Northwestern in the Big Ten championship game. Yet, the Buckeyes have lost to Purdue, eked out wins over Nebraska and Penn State and just two weeks ago needed an errant pass on a Maryland two-point conversion attempt to escape the Terps, 52-51.

If all three lose that could open the door for Central Florida (11-0) which hasn’t lost since 2016. 

But the Knights must win a rematch against Memphis, which they rallied to defeat 31-30 in mid-October. Also, UCF is now without star quarterback McKenzie Milton, who was lost to a season-ending injury last week.

So, if chaos breaks out completely and UCF also loses who gets that fourth playoff spot?

That may depend on just how close Georgia is (or isn’t) against Alabama.

Heisman watch

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama, QB: He threw just seven incompletions and five touchdown passes in a 52-21 victory over Auburn. He also ran for a touchdown. He passed for 324 yards overall. He played in the fourth quarter for just the second time, but only for three plays. The last was a 22-yard touchdown pass.

Kyler Murray, Oklahoma, QB: Murray was excellent in a 59-56 victory over West Virginia. He passed for 364 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 77 yards. Murray has accumulated 4,527 yards to rank second in the nation in total offense.

Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State, QB: Passed for 396 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 62-39 victory over Michigan. It was his eighth game with more than 300 passing yards and second with six touchdown passes.

Will Grier, West Virginia, QB: In a loss to Oklahoma, Grier passed for 539 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was his 10th outing with more than 300 passing yards.

Gardner Minshew, Washington State, QB: Minshew suffered through his worst showing of the season in a 28-15 loss to Washington. He passed for just 152 yards and threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. However, he still leads the nation with 4,580 passing yards.

Predicted playoff participants

1, Alabama: Expecting the Crimson Tide to remain unbeaten and topple Georgia in the SEC championship game.

2, Clemson: Tigers have won each of their last seven games by at least 20 points. That trend figures to continue against Pitt in the ACC title game.

3, Notre Dame: Unbeaten Irish clinched their spot in the playoff with a second half rally in last week’s 24-17 victory over USC.

4, Ohio State: Some will argue for Oklahoma if the Sooners beat Texas. But Ohio State will have more impressive wins (Michigan, Penn State, Northwestern).

This week’s best games

1, No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 5 Georgia: A rematch from last year’s epic national championship game.
2, No. 14 Texas vs. No. 6 Oklahoma: A rematch from October when Longhorns prevailed on a 40-yard field goal in final seconds.
3, No. 19 Northwestern at No. 10 Ohio State: Ohio State looked dominate against Michigan. But remember, two weeks ago the Buckeyes survived a bad pass on a two-point conversion to escape with a one-point win over Maryland.
4, No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh: Could be a blowout. Just remember, though, Pitt defeated national champion Clemson in 2016.
5, Memphis at No. 9 Central Florida: Though UCF has a 24-game winning streak, the Knights eked by Memphis 31-30 on Oct. 13. This time they don’t have injured quarterback McKenzie Milton.