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5 teams that could sneak into the 2020 College Football Playoff

By Cody Williams

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys encourages his team before a "Bedlam" game against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 30, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys encourages his team before a "Bedlam" game against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 30, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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College Football Playoff
LSU Football, College Football Playoff (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

These dark horses could sneak into the College Football Playoff.

Had the 2020 college football season been proceeding as normal, the race for the College Football Playoff could’ve been quite incredible with all the possible contenders to make the final four. Yes, Clemson, Ohio State and Alabama appeared to be the Power 5 favorites but there was another group of teams behind — and not too far behind, either — that could’ve made a run.

With the Big Ten and Pac-12 making the decision to not play in the fall, however, that takes away several of those potential College Football Playoff sleepers that were in the mix. Teams like Penn State and USC, in addition to even deeper sleepers such as Michigan and Minnesota, simply won’t be on the field this fall. And a favorite in the Buckeyes won’t be playing either.

But while the cancelation of fall football for two of the Power 5 conferences might eliminate some contenders for the National Championship run-up, it may actually make the field more entertaining and unpredictable.

As mentioned, only of the two initial favorites, Clemson and Alabama, will be playing in the fall. That in itself opens the door for other contenders to possibly get in. Having said that, the fact that the ACC, Big 12, SEC and even some Group of 5 teams are playing conference-only schedules makes things even more fascinating.

It would be disingenuous to say that every FBS team playing in the fall of 2020 has an opportunity to make the College Football Playoff. However, it is fair to say that more good teams may have the chance to play their way in given the uniqueness of the schedule and buildup to the year. Looking at the full scope of the teams playing, though, these five teams are tasty dark-horses that could conceivably end up in the College Football Playoff.