10 games that will determine the 2020 College Football Playoff

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 30: Running back Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks for an opening against the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter on November 30, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OU won 34-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

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Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis football (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /

9. Memphis at Cincinnati (Oct. 31)

With two of the Power 5 conferences not playing in the fall, this may be the best opportunity yet for a Group of 5 team to potentially play their way into the College Football Playoff. And when looking at the teams that could possibly pull that off, it really comes down to a three-team soiree at the top of the AAC between the Cincinnati Bearcats, Memphis Tigers and UCF Knights.

All three teams have the talent and capability of going unbeaten in the conference, which would make them an undeniable force to possibly crack the CFP format. So when they play one another throughout the year, those games are going to mean more than just having conference title implications.

For my money, Cincinnati should be considered the favorite of the trio. Luke Fickell’s Bearcats return the majority of the best defense in the conference while they have upside on offense with quarterback Desmond Ridder healthy once again coming into the year. So when a team like Memphis has to visit Cincy, there’s going to be a ton on the line.

Though Mike Norvell is gone and Ryan Silverfield takes over for the Tigers, Memphis should still be one of the most high-octane offenses in the country with quarterback Brady White, running back Kenneth Gainwell and wide receiver Damonte Coxie all returning. Subsequently, they’ll put the Bearcats defense to the biggest test.

If Cincinnati can withstand the Memphis offense, that will push them another step closer to a potential playoff berth. On the flip side, if the Tigers get the road win, their candidacy will grow stronger.