The College Football Playoff released its first rankings of 2016 on November 1st. Here are five teams outside the top 10 that have a chance to make it.
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee revealed its first rankings on Tuesday, November 1st at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN. It had the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Clemson Tigers, the Michigan Wolverines, and the Texas A&M Aggies as the four teams in this week in that order.
The first two out were the Washington Huskies and the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 in order were the Louisville Cardinals, the Wisconsin Badgers, the Auburn Tigers, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Last season, three of the teams in the first top four didn’t make it to the 2016 College Football Playoff. Are there any teams outside of this week’s Top 10 that could get in. Here are the five teams this week on the outside looking in that have a better shot than you think.
5. No. 20 West Virginia Mountaineers: 6-1 (3-1)
Losing in Week 9 to the now No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowboys doesn’t help the No. 20 West Virginia Mountaineers’ chances of getting into the College Football Playoff, but it’s not the death sentence many have tabbed it as for the Big 12.
West Virginia has five Big 12 games remaining, including massive ones with the No. 17 Baylor Bears and the No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners. If the Texas Longhorns make their Week 11 home game with West Virginia interesting, it would only aid the Mountaineers’ Playoff resume should they win.
The Selection Committee won’t punish West Virginia for scheduling a terrible SEC team in the Missouri Tigers in the non-conference. Missouri had won the SEC East twice in the last four years. Plus, BYU is a solid non-conference win and dialing up FCS Youngstown State isn’t terrible.
The problem with the Mountaineers is that the Big 12 isn’t strong and Dana Holgorsen’s team doesn’t play its best ball as the season progresses. In all honesty, the Big 12 will likely be shut out of the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma could run the table and be a perfect 9-0 in Big 12 play, but two non-conference losses decimate the Sooners’ chances of getting in. One would have to believe an 11-1 (8-1) Mountaineers team is the Big 12’s best shot. That may not be enough to get in, but presents a compelling argument on behalf of the Big 12.
Win out and hope for chaos is all that West Virginia can do at this point.