5 burning questions for Championship Weekend: Who gets in the Playoff?

The answers to the biggest questions for Championship Weekend will settle the College Football Playoff by Sunday afternoon.

All the guessing and predictions will come to an end after Saturday night when the conference champions are crowned. Championship Weekend will have the most drama centered around the Big 12 and Big Ten where Oklahoma and Ohio State are fighting for their playoff lives.

You’ve got questions about how your favorite team can get in, and we’ve got answers.

Will a one-loss Alabama still make the playoff?

Yes.

Alabama has looked like the best team in college football all season, so a loss coming against a top 4 team in a conference championship game will not knock the Crimson Tide out of the playoff. This situation would be interesting because the rankings will look a lot different, even though all four teams will be the same. Clemson, Notre Dame, Georgia, and Alabama would be the teams in the playoff, possibly causing controversy and outcry due to three of the five power conferences not getting a team into the playoff.

Q: How can UCF sneak in as the no. 4 team in the final rankings?

A: With a blowout win and a ton of help.

UCF needs to look impressive against Memphis while using their backup quarterback to even be in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. They also need Georgia to lose to Alabama, Oklahoma to lose to Texas and Ohio State to lose to Northwestern so they can position themselves to be in the no. 4 spot. This scenario is highly unlikely, but if it did happen, it would cause a big debate over whether they’d deserve to be in over a two-loss Georgia.

Q: Will Virginia Tech beat Marshall to become bowl eligible?

A: No.

This game may not be for a conference championship, but it does involve keeping one of the longest active bowl game appearance streaks alive. Virginia Tech has been to 25 straight bowl games and they need a win against Marshall to move to 6-6 and earn a possible bowl bid. Marshall has won five of their last six games while Virginia Tech has lost four of their last five games. Do not be surprised if Marshall is able to pull off the upset against Virginia Tech in a low scoring game.

Q: Can Texas beat Oklahoma for the second time this season?

A: There is a chance.

Both Texas and Oklahoma have played in close and highly contested games as the regular season came to a close. Texas has played in nine consecutive games decided by 15 points or less, and Oklahoma has played in four consecutive games like this. The Longhorns are only averaging 31.7 points per game, compared to 50.3 by Oklahoma. This did not matter the first time these teams played with Texas coming away with a 48-45 victory at the whistle. Texas is a 7.5-point underdog and the ESPN FPI gives them a 27.1 percent chance to beat Oklahoma. The Longhorns are going to need to be able to have another stellar offensive performance against the Sooners if they want to get another victory against their biggest rival.

Q: If Georgia loses, will Oklahoma or Ohio State get in the Playoff?

A: Oklahoma.

The Sooners have the highest ranked opponent in Texas and if they win they will prove that they can beat the only team on their schedule they have a loss against. It will be difficult for UCF and Ohio State to look impressive enough against Memphis and Northwestern to be able to jump Oklahoma for the final playoff spot. Even if Oklahoma wins in an ugly low scoring game, they will still most likely be considered a top 4 team by the committee, setting up an intriguing game against Alabama in the first round of the playoff.