What teams can still make the College Football Playoff entering Week 12?

Tennessee could definitely get in, but the Vols do not control their own destiny

Of all the teams still in it, the Tennessee Volunteers have the most interesting case. Despite being 9-1 on the season and 5-1 in SEC play, the Vols cannot win a division title or their conference’s championship. They can get to 11-1 (7-1), but a road loss to Georgia in divisional play keeps them out of Atlanta. However, the Vols are the biggest beneficiary of key losses in the other Power Five.

Tennessee needs Georgia to win the SEC, and probably do so to perfection, to get in. LSU cannot steal a spot from them, as those are mutually exclusive entities at this point. The Vols have two winnable games left vs. South Carolina and Vanderbilt. After that, they will have to watch what happens in Atlanta, as well as monitor some shenanigans in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12.

Tennessee desperately needs two undeserving champions out of either the ACC, Big 12 or Pac-12.

TCU has a fantastic opportunity ahead of it, but Frogs have little margin for error

The TCU Horned Frogs keep on winning games in spite of everyone who continually fade them. TCU is 10-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play. They have clinched a berth in the Big 12 title bout with games at Baylor and home vs. Iowa State remaining. If the Frogs get to Arlington undefeated and win, they will make the playoff. As far as being 12-1 is concerned, that is more complicated…

In theory, the Frogs could lose on the road to Baylor and might make it in, as the Bears are still in contention for the other spot in the conference title bout. A loss at home vs. a mediocre Iowa State team would be too punitive to overcome. If TCU was undefeated at 12-0 and then lost to a Kansas State team in a Big 12 title rematch, it is hard to see them getting in over another one-loss team.

Ultimately, TCU is best served to remove all doubt and just win out to make the playoff this year.