1. Georgia
Key Wins: vs #11 Ole Miss, vs #9 Missouri, @ Tennessee
Loss: N/A
Next Up: vs #8 Alabama (SEC Championship)
Outlook: Georgia is getting healthy at just the right time as Brock Bowers has been back from injury for a couple games now. Carson Beck has been growing every game into his role and steadily improving. Kendall Milton is also proving to be a true RB1. If Georgia wins this weekend, they are in and they will be the #1 team in the nation.
2. Michigan
Key Wins: @ #10 Penn State vs #6 Ohio State
Loss: N/A
Next Up: vs. #17 Iowa (Big 10 Championship)
Outlook: Jim Harbaugh is back from his 3-game suspension after interim HC Sheronne Moore led the Wolverines to a win vs rival Ohio State. Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards are the best RB duo in the country but they will need JJ McCarthy and the WRs to step up in the postseason if they want to contend for a national championship. If they win this weekend, they will be a lock to make the playoffs.
3. Washington
Key Wins: @ #14 Arizona, vs #5 Oregon, @ #21 Oregon State
Loss: N/A
Next Up: vs #5 Oregon (PAC -12 Championship)
Outlook: Washington barely escaped a scrappy Washington St. team in the Apple Cup last weekend. QB Michael Penix will definitely be a Heisman finalist and WR Rome Odunze continues to be one of the best WRs in the country. They have the head to head win over Oregon which is huge for their resume but they will need to beat them for a 2nd time in the PAC-12 Championship if they want to lock in their spot in the playoffs.
4. Florida State
Key Wins: vs #13 LSU, @ Clemson
Loss: N/A
Next Up: vs. #15 Louisville (ACC Championship)
Outlook: The Seminoles barely escaped the Swamp vs. Florida without their starting QB Jordan Travis. QB Tate Rodemaker is going to have to step up to win the ACC championship game and give FSU a shot at making the playoff. WR Keon Coleman, RB Trey Benson and the defense will need to help to alleviate the pressure on Rodemaker too.
5. Oregon
Key Wins: #21 Oregon State, @ #14 Arizona
Losses: @ #3 Washington
Next Up: vs. #3 Washington (PAC -12 Championship)
Outlook: Oregon gets an opportunity to avenge its loss earlier this year to Washington. Oregon is led by one of the best offenses in the country with QB Bo Nix and RB Bucky Irving playing absolutely incredible this year. HC Dan Lanning has a chance to bring Oregon back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
6. Ohio State
Key Wins: @ #16 Notre Dame, vs #10 Penn State
Losses: @ #2 Michigan
Next Up: Waiting…
Outlook: Ohio State is the only team on this list that isn’t playing this upcoming weekend in a conference championship. They lost a tough game last week to Michigan and they will need a lot of help if they want to get into the playoff. If Ohio State is left out, this could be the end of Ryan Day’s tenure as the Buckeyes head coach.
7. Texas
Key Wins: @ #8 Alabama, vs Kansas State
Losses: vs #12 Oklahoma
Next Up: vs. #19 Oklahoma State (Big 12 Championship)
Outlook: Texas has one of the best wins in all of college football when they beat Alabama in Week 2 in Tuscaloosa by double digits. Quinn Ewers came back from injury a couple weeks ago and Texas has been rolling again. They need to win on Saturday and even then that might not be enough to get in.
8. Alabama
Key Wins: vs #11 Ole Miss, vs #13 LSU, vs Tennessee
Losses: vs #7 Texas
Next Up: vs #1 Georgia (SEC Championship)
Outlook: After surviving a thriller in Auburn with Jalen Milroe’s throw to Isaiah Bond in the back of the end zone, Alabama still has a chance to make the CFP. This team is finally playing to their potential with all the talent on this team. They are becoming very dangerous at the right time. They have to beat Georgia in the SEC Championship which would shake up the whole playoff race all together with 2 1-loss SEC teams left in the race.
