Plus One Playoffs: 4 Darkhorse Candidates Capable of Getting in Next Season

Following the national championship game in New Orleans, conference officials met to discuss the future of the BCS and what changes can be expected when its contract with ESPN expires in 2014.

Upwards of 60 different options will be discussed but the prevailing favorite appears to a plus-one system or essentially a college football “Final Four” where the No. 1 and 4 teams and the No. 2 and 3 teams would face off, with the winners battling for a national championship.

That would mean that two more teams would be in the running for the Coaches’ Trophy. As it stands right now in-the-way-too-early predictions for 2012, LSU, USC, Oregon and Alabama are the prevailing favorites. Here are five more teams capable of getting a national title if we had a plus-one for 2012.

Florida State

Year in and year out people continue to buy into Florida State, but I’ll go on record as saying this team has one of the best shots to go undefeated.

The only problem the Seminoles had this season was a young offensive line. They will lose tackle Zebrie Sanders to graduation but will return everyone else on the entire offense except receiver Bert Reed, who failed to impress this season.

The defense for this team is the real key since it will return nine of 11 starters, including all of the defensive linemen, who ranked eighth in the country in sacks and tackles for a loss.

Pay attention to the offensive line in spring ball and if it still looks hapless, you can forget about FSU. If they don’t, watch out.

West Virginia

For the Mountaineers it all comes down to what conference they will play in next year.

If it’s the Big 12, you can all but forget about reaching the Top 5 based strictly on the strength of schedule. If it’s the Big East, this team could easily go undefeated.

All of the skill players will return on offense and that is really all that matters.

The defense was mediocre this year and its three best playmakers—Bruce Irvin, Julian Miller and Najee Goode—will all graduate, but the only real competition in the Big East would be Louisville on the road.

Not bad for an offense that put up 70 on Clemson.

Kansas State

The Wildcats were a sensation this year, going from nothing to the Cotton Bowl in one short season. Do-it-all quarterback Collin Klein returns as well as 13 other players.

Another year under Bill Snyder should do wonders for both sides of the ball, and the offense is so unique to the Big 12 that defenses can’t stop it.

If K-State continues to win the close games, there’s no reason why the team can’t be one of the Top 4 teams in the country.

Virginia Tech

Defense wins championships for the Hokies and while you won’t hear much about them in the offseason because of the losses on offense, remember one thing: they have never had a good offensive line and the receivers while good are far from irreplaceable.

This team will be better than the 2007 one that finished third in the BCS.

Florida State will visit Blacksburg in what will easily be the most anticipated game in the ACC and could decide whether or not the conference has a national title contender.

With another light non-conference schedule, Tech is going to surprise a lot of people in the media next year when it ends up in the thick of things come next season.