5 Things College Football Playoff Committee Should Watch for in Week 5
September is almost over, and that means we're inching closer to more real games. The unfortunate trend over the past decade or so is the advent of an avalanche of "Body Bag" games, where power-conference teams pick on the Little Sisters of the Poor looking for a big payday.
A significant number of conference games are on the schedule this week, as we begin to whittle down the contenders for the four College Football Playoff slots and eight other CFP bowl berths. Twenty-five teams remain unbeaten, though that's guaranteed to drop by at least two, beginning Thursday night with a Pac-12 showdown between UCLA and Arizona State.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The selection committee needs to pay attention to that game, and many others. Here are five things the committee should watch for in Week 5:
| UCLA @ Arizona State | 10 p.m. (Thur) | Fox Sports 1 |
| Arkansas vs. Texas A&M @ Arlington, Texas | 3:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Florida State @ NC State | 3:30 p.m. | ABC / ESPN2 |
| Stanford @ Washington | 4:15 p.m. | Fox |
| Oregon State @ USC | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
1. Sorting out the Pac-12
The Pac-12 is making a claim as the best conference this year, with seven teams remaining unbeaten. But the process of elimination starts Thursday night, when UCLA goes to the desert to face ASU in a South Division showdown.
In the North, Stanford, already with a conference loss (to USC), is playing a must-win game at Washington. The Huskies have looked mostly unimpressive in their first year under Chris Petersen, yet they're 4-0 entering a potential statement game.
2. Is Florida State back on track?
Jameis Winston returns this week, and we'll see if FSU rebounds from its narrow escape against Clemson, a game it really should've lost. The 'Noles are involved in this week's only other matchup of unbeatens against NC State.
While the Wolfpack haven't played anybody of note, it's worth remembering that FSU's last visit to Raleigh was not a happy one: That 17-16 upset in 2012 knocked it out of the BCS title race and remains its most recent conference loss.
3. How good, exactly, is Texas A&M?
After romping South Carolina in the season opener, the Aggies barnstormed through Texas and rolled up ridiculous numbers against Lamar, Rice and SMU (just ask the Head Ball Coach).
Now they'll be playing their first SEC West foe, and from the looks of it, Arkansas won't be the same pork chop as it had been since Bobby Petrino fell off his bike. The Hogs gave Auburn a game in the season opener and might offer A&M a stern test.
4. Notre Dame watch begins
Now that we know Michigan is brutally awful, it's safe to say the Irish haven't beaten anybody of substance in their 3-0 start. While Syracuse is no powerhouse, the game at the Meadowlands kicks off a four-game stretch in which Notre Dame will also face Stanford, North Carolina and Florida State. We will get an idea just where (and if) the Irish belong after these next four weeks.
5. The dwindling group-of-five ranks
Four weeks into the season, there are only two unbeaten group-of-five conference teams. East Carolina, with one loss, is in the driver's seat for the guaranteed New Year's Six bowl berth after back-to-back wins over ACC teams.
Cincinnati would like to have some say in this matter as it plays its biggest showcase game of the year Saturday with a visit to Ohio Stadium. A win over the reeling Buckeyes will immediately move the Bearcats to the front of the line.
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
