Twenty-five Power 4 teams, plus Notre Dame, are sitting with two losses or less as we roll into November, and if you think the College Football Playoff committee has an easy job, you have got another thing coming. This is not just a crowded field, it is an absolute brawl, and the stakes for who makes the final cut are getting higher with every snap.
The Fight For Perfection: Who’s Still Standing?
Right now, only three Power 4 teams are still perfect: Miami, UCLA, and Utah, all rocking an 8-0 record heading into the deepest part of the schedule. Miami, in particular, is looking like the real deal, even after a nail-biter against a Bill Belichick-led North Carolina, pulling out a 38-35 ACC thriller. Their quarterback Darian Mensah is putting up insane numbers, going 22 of 29 for 274 yards and 3 TDs in that game, and he is absolutely closing the gap in the Heisman race. And do not forget Malachi Toney, who snagged 7 catches for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns. These guys are electric.
But even the best have cracks, right? Miami’s defense gave up a whopping 341 passing yards against the Tar Heels, and that is a serious red flag heading into their monstrous Week 10 showdown with Notre Dame. Speaking of the Irish, they are one of seven Power 4 teams with just a single loss, currently sitting at 7-1. That one-loss club is stacked, also featuring Georgia (7-1) and Kentucky (7-1) from the SEC, BYU (7-1) and Texas Tech (7-1) in the Big 12, Indiana (8-1) from the Big Ten, and Wake Forest (7-1) in the ACC. Georgia, projected as the No. 2 seed right now, just pounded Florida 27-8 for their seventh straight victory in that rivalry series. Gunner Stockton was 13 of 23 in that game.
Two Losses and a Prayer: The CFP Bubble is Exploding
If the one-loss teams are a tough crowd, the two-loss teams are an entire mob. A staggering 15 Power 4 teams have two losses. We are talking six from the SEC alone: Alabama (6-2), LSU (6-2), Missouri (6-2), Ole Miss (6-2), Tennessee (6-2), and Texas (6-2). Then the Big Ten has four two-loss squads: USC (7-2), Ohio State (6-2), Iowa (6-2), and Northwestern (6-2). The ACC adds three more: Duke (6-2), SMU (6-2), and Virginia Tech (6-2). And in the Big 12, you have still got Arizona (6-2) and Houston (6-2) hanging around.
It is absolute madness. Seriously, crafting a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket out of this mess? Good luck. This is exactly why a 24-team playoff would clear up so much of this guesswork. Trimming this down to a dozen teams is going to be wildly entertaining, especially this season. Right now, the field is pretty much what it was last week, but everyone knows the momentous November 7 schedule is going to blow it all up.
So, what is next? Miami is staring down Notre Dame, a game that could define their season and Mensah’s Heisman push. Every single game from here on out is a playoff game for these contenders. Meanwhile, in some other college football action, our very own Washington State Cougars fell to the San Diego State Aztecs 26-20 in a tough battle. The regular season is flying by, and every team is fighting for their lives. Get ready for some wild finishes, folks, because this college football season is far from settled.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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