Alabama will still make College Football Playoff, Joe Burrow No. 1 pick

Believe it or not, Alabama is still going to make the College Football Playoff despite losing the Game of the Century to SEC West rival LSU.

The weekend after the first College Football Playoff rankings were announced, upsets were in order. But does a loss by a top team necessarily mean they’re out of the playoff hunt? What will matter more to the committee – strength of schedule or “bad” losses?

We found out a lot about several teams, and some new chatter among college football fans began taking shape. Most of it surrounding the Crimson Tide. College football experts Patrick Schmidt and Michael Collins debate Bama’s playoff hopes and some other huge topics.

Believe it or not, Alabama will still make the College Football Playoff

Schmidt: Believe it

All last week, I hyped myself up into thinking if Alabama lost to LSU, there would be no chance they could still make the College Football Playoff. Then, Saturday happened and Alabama lost and I ended up changing everything I once believed.

First, Penn State lost to Minnesota so that takes out the Nittany Lions from the equation. As much as I love P.J. Fleck, I don’t think the Gophers are going to beat Ohio State and get in the playoff, so that means the Big Ten will only have one representative.

Throw in Clemson from the ACC and that’s two spots locked up. Provided LSU doesn’t lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, that’ll put the Tigers in and eliminate the Bulldogs from the playoff conversation.

Utah and Oregon could make the race for the fourth spot the most interesting. Utah lost to USC in Kedon Slovis‘ first start and Oregon lost to Auburn in the season opener. If Alabama smokes Auburn, how can the committee say Oregon is better than Alabama? It won’t be because of the Pac-12 North schedule they face.

Baylor could conceivably run the table and win the Big 12 but can you say without question they would be better than a one-loss Alabama? The only loss would be to the No. 1 team in the nation with a quarterback coming back from ankle surgery and they only lost by five.

There will not be a one-loss team with a better case. They’ll just be able to say they won their conference. But the second-best team in the SEC West is better than the Big 12 and Pac-12 conference champions, at least.

Just watch. Something weird is gonna happen in the Pac-12, Oklahoma is going to beat Baylor and Alabama is going to slide in through the back door and get a rematch with LSU in the Peach Bowl. It’s going to happen and we’re all going to complain about it until we get an eight-team playoff.

Collins: Not

Does Alabama still have a shot at the College Football Playoff? Of course, they do. As many as 10 teams still logistically and mathematically have a shot.

Alabama actually making it…that’s a different story.

The Crimson Tide have two things on their side as far as the playoff is concerned. They’re Alabama, for one, and their only loss (thus far) is to the expected No. 1 team in the nation. Both good things for the resume.

However, Alabama doesn’t control what nine other teams are going to be doing over the next few weeks, nor do they control their weak schedule, which the committee is surely going to take into consideration.

For Bama to make the playoff again as a one-loss, non-conference-winning team, they would need a lot of help. Could it happen? Yeah, lots of things could happen. But coming up with the perfect combination of losses by other teams and sympathy from the playoff committee is among the least likely for Alabama.

This will more than likely be the first College Football Playoff field without Alabama included.

Believe it or not, Mark Dantonio is the next coach on the hot seat

Schmidt: Believe it

Michigan State Athletic Director Bill Beekman said it’s “not even a discussion” if they plan to fire Mark Dantonio after this disappointing season. But he said that before the Spartans allowed 27 fourth-quarter points to Illinois in Spartan Stadium to give the Illini their biggest comeback win in program history.

Dantonio is 24-23  overall and 15-18 in the Big Ten over the last four years. The Golden Era from 2010-2015 when Michigan State won 65 games and had four top-10 finishes is long gone and not returning. Coupled with Dantonio’s off-field issues and it would make total sense for Michigan State to start fresh. If Michigan State can poach Matt Campbell from Iowa State or Luke Fickell from Cincinnati, they should jump at that chance.

Collins: Not

This is not a good situation for Mark Dantonio, especially given Saturday’s collapse against Illinois. While I think Dantonio may not be coaching at Michigan State next season (or at all, for that matter), I don’t think he’s next up on the hot seat.

We’ve already seen two mid-season Division I dismissals with Willie Taggart being ousted at FSU and then Chad Morris being unceremoniously shown the door at Arkansas after an embarrassing loss to WKU. There may be one more in-season firing coming, and it’s not Dantonio.

There’s a bad situation brewing in Lubbock, Texas, and while the Red Raiders 4-5 record might not be bad enough to dismiss first-year head coach Matt Wells, the recent accusations regarding Wells might serve as reason enough.

Well is essentially accused of allowing a player who had been accused of sexually harassing multiple women to remain on his team at Utah State. The debate right now centers around the timeline of when Wells met with the player in question, and why it was not reported to the Title IX office.

Despite this happening before Wells came to Texas Tech, the mood in the Big XII surrounding this topic will be particularly bristly given what the conference and Baylor just went through a few years ago with Art Briles. If there is evidence that Wells harbored such activity on his team, Texas Tech will move on quickly.

Believe it or not, Ohio State can win the national title without Chase Young

Schmidt: Believe it

The whole Chase Young stuff really bums me out. It’s a shame he wasn’t allowed to play vs. Maryland last week and has no timeline for his return after taking a loan from a family friend to help cover travel expenses for his girlfriend to see him in the Rose Bowl last year.

If the NCAA doesn’t reinstate him this season and Ohio State is forced to play without him, I think they still have a great chance at winning the national title, but, obviously, it becomes a lot harder without the best defensive player in the nation. Hopefully, this won’t even become something we have to ponder because the NCAA could easily reinstate him after the Rutgers game this weekend and he’ll be back for Penn State, Michigan and however many games the Buckeyes have after that.

Collins: Believe it

The Chase Young situation is bad…for Chase Young. It’s basically killed his Heisman hopes and could adversely affect his draft position, as he was projected by Mel Kiper Jr. and others to be the No. 1 overall pick.

But when it comes to the Ohio State Buckeyes, they are a lot more than just Chase Young. They’ll miss his presence for the few games he may be suspended, but there is more than enough depth and talent on that team that the loss of one player — even one as good as Young — can’t be compensated for.

The Buckeyes did fine without Young against Maryland, and certainly, Rutgers isn’t going to pose a threat. Chances are Young will be back for the two huge games against Penn State and Michigan (and he’ll be well-rested and healed up) and the Buckeyes will be fine.

But even if the NCAA decides to extend Young’s suspension for more than two games, it’s clear from what we’ve seen so far this season that Ohio State is a better team than both the Nittany Lions and the Wolverines.

Either way, Young will be back for the playoff and that’s when Ohio State will need him most.

Believe it or not, Joe Burrow will win the Heisman and be the No. 1 overall pick

Schmidt: Half believe it

I believe Joe Burrow clinched the Heisman Trophy with his performance in the win against Alabama where he torched Nick Saban’s defense with his arm and used his feet to deliver the final dagger. He can start writing his acceptance speech right now. But the race for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft is a different conversation.

I think Burrow has gone from a late-round developmental prospect to the potential top quarterback. That’s pretty much unheard of but depending on who has the top pick, I can see scenarios where Burrow is not the guy. I think it’s a three-person race for the top pick.

If a team with a quarterback in place gets the top pick, I think the top pick will be Chase Young. If it’s a team like the Cincinnati Bengals or Miami Dolphins who get the top pick, it’ll be either Tua Tagovailoa or Burrow. Tua is still the top quarterback for most teams but Burrow is cutting into that lead and by March and April, he could be the guy.

But today, as much as I love Burrow and what he’s meant for LSU, I’m only willing to say he’s got the Heisman on lock and the No. 1 pick is within reach, but not yet a lock.

Collins: Believe it

This one is quite simple. Burrow pretty much locked up the Heisman with his stellar performance against Alabama. Unless he has a complete meltdown over the next three weeks, you can go ahead and etch his name on the trophy.

As far as the top pick in the draft is concerned, right now the winless Cincinnati Bengals have the inside track to that spot (what were you thinking winning two in a row, Dolphins??). The Bengals have benched longtime starter Andy Dalton, signaling the end of his run of above-averageness in Cincy, and it’s doubtful the Bengals brass is looking at Ryan Finley as their longterm solution.

Bottom line, the Bengals need a franchise-changing quarterback, and Joe Burrow is absolutely the best, most NFL-ready quarterback in this year’s draft class. The Bengals will snatch him up with the first pick and the AFC North will three different Heisman-winning starting quarterbacks playing in their division.

Believe it or not, Baylor-Oklahoma will be game of the week

Schmidt: Believe it

Okay, so it’s not the Game of the Century, but I’m really pumped to see if Matt Rhule can keep Baylor’s dream season alive vs. Oklahoma. I thought Baylor would be pretty solid this year because Rhule is one of the best coaches in football, but my best-case scenario would have been an eight-win season. They’re 9-0!

With a win against Oklahoma, they will become legitimate College Football Playoff contenders and can start prepping for the Big 12 Championship Game. Baylor isn’t flashy offensively like the other top teams but their defense is basically mirroring what Alabama has done through nine games. Okay, so this Alabama defense isn’t the same Alabama defense we’ve seen in the past, but it’s still really good. Baylor is allowing .3 points per game more than Alabama and two more yards per game. That’s good company.

And if Baylor can play their best defensive game against Lincoln Riley, Jalen Hurts, CeeDee Lamb and the Sooners, it’ll be the best game of the week.

Collins: Not

Baylor-Oklahoma will be an intriguing game, and certainly will have playoff ramifications, but it’s not the premier game of the week.

For those of you suffering from SEC-fatigue, look away now.

Georgia and Auburn — the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry — are about to lock up in one of the most crucial games of the year. Georgia’s playoff hopes hang in the balance against the Tigers, and Auburn has the opportunity to once again play spoiler for their old rival.

Unlike the Big 12 situation where Baylor could lose this game and still potentially eek their way into a playoff spot, it’s all on the line for Georgia. Lose, and they’re done.

Besides the postseason implications this game carries, it also will feature two of the best defenses in the nation. The Bulldogs are second nationally in scoring defense, giving up only 10.1 points per game, and Auburn ranks among the nation’s leaders in most defensive categories.

Immovable object meets irresistible force in an old-time, smashmouth SEC scrap with playoff hopes on the line. This one is your must-watch game of the week.

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