The outcomes of last weekend's games will play a significant role in which teams will comprise the second College Football Playoff. Here's how I project the playoffs after the action from week 10:
8. Notre Dame/Stanford
Since these two play each other at the end of the season, I'm going to let them share this spot. Notre Dame's path is much easier than the Cardinal, who'll have to finish the year with games against Oregon and Cal before meeting the Irish in South Bend. Notre Dame finishes with Boston College and Wake Forest before hosting Stanford, and both the Irish and Cardinal would need some outside help to step into one of the four spots.
7. LSU
Let's not forget about the Tigers. Les Miles' squad let Alabama dominate them in the trenches this weekend, surrendering over 200-yards and three touchdowns to Derrick Henry. This, along with Ole Miss losing to Arkansas, put Alabama in the driver's seat in the SEC West. If Florida was to lose one of their remaining games and upset Alabama in the SEC Championship, there's a possibility that LSU would jump into one of the four spots. The other scenario is if Alabama loses one of their remaining games on the schedule that includes trips to Mississippi State and Auburn, then LSU can jump into the playoff by winning the SEC Championship.
6. Baylor
The Bears' remaining schedule is brutal. It includes games against three ranked opponents before hosting Texas in the regular season finale. If Baylor remains undefeated by the end of the season, then they're a lock for the playoff, but I just don't see them getting through the gauntlet of their remaining games.
5. Iowa
The Hawkeyes have been one of the big surprises of the 2015 season. It's very possible that they could finish the regular season undefeated, but it will be essential for them to win the Big 10 Championship. I don't have them projected to make the playoff yet because their path to getting there is subject to much more scrutiny than a team coming from the SEC.
4. Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State showed us they're for real by beating TCU this weekend, and the Horned Frogs were a team that I'd previously thought were going to be the team that would stay undefeated until the end the season from the Big 12. The Cowboys have moved into that spot for me after taking down TCU in that impressive win but still have a tough road to make into one of the final four spots.
3. Ohio State
The Buckeyes continue to win. Ohio State does have to pass several tests and win the Big 10 Championship to earn a spot, but if there's any team capable that possesses the talent, it's them. Games against Michigan State and a road-test against Michigan in the Big House will tell the tale for this team.
2. Alabama
Even with the early-season loss to Ole Miss, there hasn't been a team that's looked more legitimate in the past seven weeks than Alabama. The Tide has had their way with some good teams, and Derrick Henry has risen to become a significant Heisman Trophy contender along the way. Four more wins stand between Alabama and a second-consecutive playoff appearance.
1. Clemson
The Tigers continue to thwart doubts about their legitimacy to make the playoff, and they can fine-tune themselves in the next few weeks against Syracuse and Wake Forest for their rivalry game against South Carolina and the ACC Championship. South Carolina is a team that has nothing to lose, and we all know that rankings can be thrown out the windows in rivalry games. Clemson, however, is the team that I'm most confident about keeping a good week-to-week focus.
As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @griffaldo.
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