Iowa State, USC, Wisconsin and the 7 teams that can make their first College Football Playoff this year

Iowa can afford one loss with a chance to compete for Big Ten championship

Of the seven teams who have a shot to make the College Football Playoff for the first time this year, the Iowa Hawkeyes have arguably the toughest schedule. While they do draw Indiana and Penn State at home out of the Big Ten East, Iowa must play Wisconsin in Madison, Northwestern in Evanston and of course, Iowa State in Ames. However, Iowa can afford a loss to any of them.

Beating the Cyclones at Jack Trice will be a massive non-conference win. It could also give Kirk Ferentz’s team the confidence to go 3-1 over those four other games in question. Having the head-to-head tiebreaker over Northwestern and Wisconsin will be paramount. Iowa may not be able to beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship but could beat Indiana or Penn State in a rematch to get in.

USC has a strong non-conference schedule that could propel Trojans over the top

Though the USC Trojans will almost certainly face fewer top-25 teams than Iowa this year, there are only a few gimme games on their schedule. BYU, Notre Dame and San Jose State are all tough draws in the non-conference. The good news for the Trojans is they would not have to face Oregon or Washington out of the Pac-12 North until the conference title bout in Las Vegas.

It remains to be seen if USC is any better than the third-best team in the Pac-12 South. While the Trojans have to play Arizona State in Tempe, they have never lost a game at home to Utah in their rich football history. Factor in Colorado being good and Cal having a bounce-back year and USC will be battle-tested by the time they potentially face Oregon or Washington in Las Vegas at 11-1 or so.

A win over Clemson in Charlotte could get UNC in the playoff

Of the seven teams listed here, the North Carolina Tar Heels have arguably the softest schedule. Then again, it is not that easy. Opening the year at Virginia Tech will serve as a 2021 tone-setter for Mack Brown’s team. They should beat the Hokies, and if they do, they can get to Charlotte as the ACC Coastal Champion with only one loss on the year. They might be undefeated in ACC play.

The three other games of note on North Carolina’s schedule are a road date at Notre Dame, home vs. division rival Miami and at cross-divisional rival North Carolina State to end the regular season. If North Carolina splits the pair between Miami and Notre Dame, the Tar Heels can be 11-1 by the time they play Clemson. If Sam Howell outplays D.J. Uiagalelei in the Queen City, UNC will be kings.

Look for one of these next three teams to potentially make the playoff for the first time in 2021.