With all these losses thinning out thee ranks of undefeated teams, things are getting a lot clearer in the playoff race. There are eight total teams. South Florida and Central Florida play each other, aren't in the Power 5, and have almost nothing of OOC strength of schedule, so I'm throwing them out.
That leaves:
Alabama
Georgia
Wisconsin
Penn State
TCU
Miami U.
All of these teams have a clear path to the playoffs - win out and they are in. Because Alabama/UGA and PSU/Wiscy would have to cross paths, only 4 teams can actually end up undefeated.
Of course, it is unlikely we end up with 4 undefeated teams. Wazzu and WSU losing made a clearer path for one loss teams to make the playoffs. For example, if OSU won out, they would still probably be behind the undefeated teams and a 1 loss Oklahoma team. But they are probably ahead of a 1 loss Pac 12 champion.
So, IMO, the standings are looking roughly like this.
1. SEC champ (undefeated Bama is a clear #1, undefeated Georgia might be behind an undefeated PSU)
2. B1G champ (An undefeated champ not jumping Bama, but may rise to 1 is Bama loses. UM, OSU, MSU all in range)
3. ACC champ (Potentially an undefeated Miami. More likely a 1 loss Clemson or NC State)
4. B12 Champ (TCU is undefeated, Oklahoma and Okie State with 1 loss)
- Notre Dame is a potential wild card here. If they win out against a schedule that includes USC, Stanford, and Miami, they'll have a strong argument. If the beat Miami and Miami wins the ACC, they are probably ahead of them.
- Pac 12 in a tough situation, but not out of it. They are probably last out of the conferences, but there is every possibility that 2 loss teams could win a conference, which would put a 1 loss Pac 12 champ right in the mix. USC probably the favorite based on name brand recognition. If they beat ND and win the conference people would probably talk about them like last year, where they ended up on a hot streak.
