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College Football Playoff rankings, Week 11: 3 takeaways

By John Buhler

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 28: Conor Sheehy No. 94 and Olive Sagapolu No. 99 of the Wisconsin Badgers are seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 28: Conor Sheehy No. 94 and Olive Sagapolu No. 99 of the Wisconsin Badgers are seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE STATION, TX – NOVEMBER 04: Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ryan Davis (23) catches a pass against his helmet in the flat during the football game between Auburn and Texas A
COLLEGE STATION, TX – NOVEMBER 04: Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ryan Davis (23) catches a pass against his helmet in the flat during the football game between Auburn and Texas A /

2. Auburn could be the first two-loss team to make the College Football Playoff, as Tigers control own destiny

Eventually, it is going to happen. A two-loss conference champion will be able to make the College Football Playoff. While there is hope for the No. 11 USC Trojans (8-2) or the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans (7-2), this year’s best shot at doing the unthinkable is the No. 10 Auburn Tigers (7-2).

Of course, this is Auburn and the Tigers could totally go 8-4 (5-3), lose their bowl game and be looking for a new head coach over the inconsistent Gus Malzahn. However, there is a path for Auburn where it can make the College Football Playoff. It’s not an overly complex one either, so let’s get to it!

Auburn hosts No. 1 Georgia this Saturday down on The Plains. If Auburn beats Georgia, cakewalks past the ULM Warhawks and knocks off archrival No. 2 Alabama, the Tigers will play Georgia in a rematch in the 2017 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Keep in mind that Auburn only has one loss in SEC play, which came to the No. 24 LSU Tigers (6-3). Auburn lost a close road game to No. 4 Clemson earlier in the season in the non-conference.

Basically, if Auburn beats Georgia twice, Alabama and ULM sandwiched in there, don’t tell me that the Tigers won’t make the College Football Playoff as the No. 4 seed — maybe even better than that. To be fair, that’s quite the parlay. It’s unlikely Auburn can survive that theoretical gauntlet.

That being said, crazier things have happened to Auburn football during the Malzahn Era. In a matter of weeks, the 2013 Tigers beat Georgia with The Prayer at Jordan-Hare Game and Alabama with the Kick Six. Keep in mind both of those games were at Auburn, just like this year. It would be so Auburn to make the playoff by running this ridiculous gauntlet this year.

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