Athlon Sports’ remaining games that will shape the College Football Playoff
I know what you are thinking: “Every game matters.” Not in this case.
As the 2015 college football season charges down the home stretch, there is a clear path to a championship forming right before our eyes. The football gods have given us 25 games between now and bowl season that will undoubtedly decide which four teams will qualify for the College Football Playoff.
Get out your calendars and set your DVRs.
Oct. 31
Georgia vs. Florida
The Gators must get to the SEC title game with only one loss on their resume in order to stay in the conversation.
Notre Dame at Temple
The Irish need to win out to stay alive. A win for Temple catapults them up the polls and into the conversation.
Nov. 7
Michigan State at Nebraska
The Huskers have nothing left to lose. The Spartans can’t afford to lose.
Oklahoma State at Texas Christian
This is the first game of a four-team round-robin in the Big 12.
Florida State at Clemson
Florida State stays alive with a win and is eliminated with a loss. This is likely for a spot in the ACC Championship Game.
LSU at Alabama
A second loss eliminates the Tide. An LSU loss creates a three-way tie with Alabama and Ole Miss.
Nov. 14
Oklahoma at Baylor
Game 2 of the Big 12 four-way round-robin.
Pitt at Duke
The winner likely heads to the ACC Championship Game with one loss.
Memphis at Houston
An unbeaten dream season is on the line.
Nov. 21
Michigan State at Ohio State
The loser likely misses out on the Big Ten Championship Game and drops out of the College Football Playoff conversation.
Texas Christian at Oklahoma
TCU’s final road game of the season before hosting Baylor.
Baylor at Oklahoma State
Each team has a signature contest the following week.
Memphis at Temple
If both are still unbeaten at this point, the winner should find itself comfortably inside the College Football Playoff committee’s top 10.
UCLA at Utah
Utah needs to hold off Josh Rosen and the Bruins to stay in the conversation.
LSU at Ole Miss
The Rebels could clinch the SEC west with a win.
Nov. 27
Iowa at Nebraska
This is far and away Iowa’s toughest remaining game. The Hawkeyes will be in the College Football Playoff conversation until they lose. Nebraska could be playing for bowl eligibility.
Baylor at Texas Christian
Odds are the winner takes the Big 12 title and likely clinches a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Nov. 28
Ohio State at Michigan
This is possibly Ohio State’s last major hurdle. Michigan has an outside shot at a division title with a win.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
There’s a chance that the winner of this one comes out on top of the Big 12, giving a whole new meaning to “Bedlam.”
Stanford at Notre Dame
If neither team loses another game between now and then, this will be a College Football Playoff elimination game.
Dec. 5
AAC Championship
This game could yield the only unbeaten conference champion in FBS.
B1G Championship
Likely Iowa against either Ohio State, Michigan or Michigan State. Three of the four possible matchups could mean an automatic Playoff bid to the winner.
Pac-12 Championship
If Stanford plays Utah and each team has only one loss, it’ll be tough to keep the winner out of the final four.
SEC Championship
Both participants could enter the game with at least one loss. If both teams have two losses when it’s over, we’re likely looking at an SEC-free College Football Playoff.
ACC Championship
The odds say this will be Duke and Clemson. If neither team adds a loss between now and then, the winner, like the Pac-12, will be tough to turn away.
— Written by J.P. Scott, part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Scott is the editor-in-chief of KnowItAllFootball.com, a Big Ten site for Big Ten fans. Follow him on Twitter @TheJPScott.
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