Oklahoma Is the Ultimate College Football Playoff Crasher

Tell me if the following sounds familiar.

A power program suffers an inexplicable loss early in the year, prompting the football world to dig it a nice, cozy grave. This same power program, through the play of its outstanding quarterback, supercharged running back and opportunistic defense, then climbs its way back from the deepest depths out of this dark hole and back into the light.

Ohio State wrote this divine College Football Playoff script last season. Following its win over Baylor, Oklahoma is in a position to alter a few lines, make a few wardrobe changes and reboot this redemption story once more, with feeling. 

In the pouring rain, led by a former walk-on quarterback, the Sooners (9-1) announced their return Saturday night in a 44-34 victory in Waco, Texas, over the previously unbeaten Bears (8-1).

That Texas loss? What Texas loss? Oh, that ol’ thing? That was a long time ago, friend. I wouldn’t worry about that now. 

On a day that saw four more Top 10 teams take a tumble—and many other playoff hopefuls narrowly escape upsets—Bob Stoops’ squad stated a compelling case for CFP inclusion. 

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Behind Baker Mayfield’s fist pumps and four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), along with running back Samaje Perine’s emphatic contributions (166 yards rushing, two touchdowns), the Sooners showcased offensive balance that should have the rest of the conference concerned. OU also flashed defense—a term not always celebrated in these parts—forcing three turnovers.

It looked balanced and deadly. The selection committee, having publicly hoped for Big 12 clarity this week, finally got some. And now, having distanced itself from its own Virginia Tech-esque gaffe, Oklahoma is now a contender. 

It controls its own Big 12 destiny. Wins over reeling TCU and resilient Oklahoma State to close out the year would earn Oklahoma the conference title. Neither of these games is a given. But the opportunity—two more chances to convince the committee that it belongs—is precisely what this team needs. 

A conference title wouldn’t guarantee a playoff spot with Notre Dame still lurking, but it would give Oklahoma a definitive edge over the Irish if it played out accordingly. And with Stanford’s Week 11 loss, Notre Dame’s best remaining opponent lost plenty of shine. 

What a weekend it was for the team that somehow found a way to lose to Texas—the label it wore so well up until Saturday, the day that upset was no longer the story.

No, Oklahoma has other things in mind. And suddenly, the biggest obstacle might be in the rearview mirror.

As for other thoughts on a wild Week 11, let’s get to it.

The Pac-12’s Playoff Hopes Are Essentially Dead

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Barring chaos of the highest degree, the Pac-12 will not be part of the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Eve. This is not meant to be some sort of overwhelming declaration or shocking statement. Quite frankly, the conference might simply be out of reasonable options. 

Stanford, the selection committee’s No. 7 team Tuesday, fell 38-36 to Oregon in the first surprise of the evening. David Shaw’s team had a chance to tie it up on a two-point conversion, but the pass was batted away late in the fourth quarter. While the committee was certainly willing to overlook a loss to Northwestern to start the year, this changes things.

But we were not done. As the day was winding down, No. 10 Utah watched its playoff hopes crumble in a 37-30 loss to Arizona. The Utes, having lost to USC a few weeks back, were already being viewed with a watchful eye.

Now? Don’t be shocked when Utah takes a significant drop in the next rankings.

Each team in the conference now has at least two losses. And while a conference champion will certainly enjoy a nice bump when the day comes, it won’t be enough—even with chaos still lurking—to creep into the top four.

The damage has been done. Stanford certainly seemed like a trendy playoff pick entering the week with Notre Dame still on.

But now? It looks like the Cardinal will have to play spoiler, and the conference can spend New Year’s Eve watching the semifinals like everyone else.

After Nail-Biters, Close Calls and Heartbreak, the Wolverines’ Playoff Hopes Live

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In this new playoff era, a team can rebound from one loss. But two losses? Well, just ask the Pac-12 about it. Good luck next season, friend. 

And yet, two-loss Michigan, currently No. 14 in the latest College Football Playoff standings, feels like the exception to this unforgiving rule. It’s not because the Wolverines don’t have faults—they most certainly do—but rather because they have the opportunity to make a handful of impressions before the committee’s final ranking.

This dream scenario was almost lost Saturday. Michigan powered past Indiana 48-41 in double overtime, needing some offensive heroics. On the defense’s worst day of the Jim Harbaugh era, quarterback Jake Rudock finished with 440 passing yards, 64 rushing yards and six passing touchdowns. The Wolverines needed every last morsel.

Michigan will play at Penn State next Saturday before welcoming Ohio State to Ann Arbor—a game that will garner an unbelievable amount of hype. If the Buckeyes beat Michigan State next week, the Wolverines will control their own Big Ten fate.

Would victories over undefeated Ohio State and (potentially) undefeated Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game propel Michigan into the playoff over teams with one loss? 

Maybe. Help might still be required, but it’s not out of the realm of possibly. And in terms of ratings attractiveness, Michigan would be a mighty fine draw. As much as we’d like to say this would not impact the selection process, it certainly won’t hurt the Wolverines' chances, either.

Alabama Suddenly Looks Unceremoniously Dominant

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It’s not a complex formula, although that doesn’t mean it’s easy to duplicate. In the most Alabama way imaginable, the Crimson Tide—on a day where others struggled—looked like the nation’s most extraordinary football obstacle. 

That’s not to say that Alabama will (or should) be the selection committee’s new No. 1 team Tuesday night. That likely won’t be the case with one loss. But in clobbering Mississippi State 31-6 on the road after it derailed LSU’s undefeated season, Alabama put on yet another show.

The defensive line, one of the best of the last 10 years, finished the day with nine sacks. Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott didn’t stand a chance.

"We did most of it with four guys rushing,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban told reporters after the game, per Aaron Suttles, highlighting the sheer absurdity of the group. He’s right. Why blitz at this point?

On offense, running back Derrick Henry continued his magnificent bulldozing efforts, running for 204 yards and two touchdowns on only 22 carries. He’s the Heisman Trophy favorite at this point, per Odds Shark, and there isn’t a ton of debate about it.

Alabama will draw Charleston Southern next week before ending the regular season with 5-5 Auburn. The path is now incredibly clear.

Once on the outskirts of the SEC conversation, Alabama is back to being its terrifying self.

North Carolina Looks Like the Potential Thorn in the ACC’s Side—or Maybe Not

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A fascinating situation is brewing in the ACC—one that could put the conference in a rather interesting predicament. On a day Clemson struggled for much of its 37-27 win at Syracuse, North Carolina smothered another opponent in points.

On Saturday, the Tar Heels casually dismantled Miami, 59-21. In the past two weeks, they have posted a combined 125 points. Even though the Tar Heels' competition hasn't exactly been the nation’s most elite teams, the destruction is hard to ignore.

That brings us to the very real possibility that North Carolina and Clemson will meet in the ACC Championship Game with only a loss between them. That loss, if the season plays out, will have come in Week 1 when North Carolina fell to South Carolina thanks in large part to a handful of woeful red-zone interceptions. Since then, the Heels have been perfect.

Thus far, North Carolina has not been able to grab the selection committee’s attention. Even with a win over Clemson, No. 23 UNC's chances of crashing the top four are small. 

But a Tar Heels victory in the ACC title game could ultimately bump the conference out of the playoff. And the way North Carolina is trending, a conference championship suddenly seems more than reasonable.