Teams That Could Ruin Contenders' 2016 College Football Playoff Hopes
Some teams likely aren't capable of making a run to the 2016 College Football Playoff, but that doesn't mean they're not good enough to shatter the dreams of touted opponents.
Each of the following programs has a couple of potentially season-changing matchups against teams considered contenders for the national championship.
To help settle disputes about what a contender is, the basis for the article is Odds Shark's futures list. Any school mentioned has multiple games against foes with high odds for the 2016 title—and would be more than a completely shocking upset.
Sorry, Rutgers.
In other words, if your team is included in the following slides, it's because Vegas is the one that hates your team, but I think it's good enough to win. You're welcome.
Michigan State
1 of 7
All the disrespect, right, Spartans?
Well, Michigan State is bound to take a step back after losing the connection between Connor Cook and Aaron Burbridge. A Sept. 17 outing against Notre Dame will show if MSU is ready to compete for more than a Jan. 2 bowl game.
No matter the result in South Bend, though, the Spartans have two games that hold a larger impact. They'll host Michigan on Oct. 29 and Ohio State three weeks later on Nov. 19.
Malik McDowell headlines what should be a strong defense. Even if the MSU offense doesn't develop into a consistently threatening attack, one lockdown day from McDowell and Co. can end a championship chase for the second straight season.
Texas A&M
2 of 7
Four of Odds Shark's top 12 contenders hail from the SEC. Texas A&M has the duty—nay, the privilege—of taking on all four.
Tennessee can hardly afford a loss to not-LSU or not-Alabama, and the Aggies welcome the Vols to College Station on Oct. 8.
Following a bye week, A&M must endure a brutal finish that starts in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 22. Then after battling Bama, the Aggies will challenge Ole Miss on Nov. 12. The real interesting contest is a Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24) struggle versus LSU. The latter two games are at Kyle Field.
Head coach Kevin Sumlin's team has multiple opportunities to utilize its raucous home-field advantage to spring a significant upset.
Wisconsin
3 of 7
Good luck finding a team that has a more difficult seven-game stretch to start the regular season than Wisconsin.
The Badgers open 2016 with a somewhat neutral-site clash with LSU at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sept. 3. Head coach Paul Chryst's team will host two cupcake opponents before entering the gauntlet.
Michigan State (Sept. 24) and Iowa (Oct. 22)—the reigning Big Ten East and West division champions, respectively—bookend a five-week period with Michigan (Oct. 1) and Ohio State (Oct. 15) in the middle.
Early-season shortcomings aren't necessarily a killer, but non-division losses for either the Wolverines and Buckeyes would be a serious problem because they'll square off later. Falling to Wisconsin would be the proverbial dagger.
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USC
4 of 7
USC doesn't ease into the 2016 campaign, either.
The first game can't get tougher than Alabama, the defending national champion. Additionally, the Trojans hit the road on Sept. 17 for Stanford, which is a top-10 championship contender.
Although Utah is no pushover and presents an arduous test the following Friday, USC's schedule really picks up in November. The Trojans have similar odds to Oregon and UCLA, which are on the docket for Nov. 5 and Nov. 19, respectively.
But that's not all. Longtime rival Notre Dame will enter the Coliseum on Nov. 26.
Even if USC fall shorts of the College Football Playoff, it has a handful of chances to hand down a similar fate.
Texas Tech
5 of 7
Barring a miraculous turnaround defense, Texas Tech won't stick around the top of the Big 12 standings for long. Hanging around on the scoreboard is an entirely different story.
Led by dual-threat quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Red Raiders are capable of out-offense-ing basically any team in the nation.
We'll see if they can execute for 60 uptempo minutes versus Oklahoma on Oct. 22. Then on Nov. 25, Texas Tech and Baylor—the country's top two scoring offenses in 2015—will grapple at Jerry World in Arlington, Texas.
For good measure, the Red Raiders will also travel to meet TCU (Oct. 29) and Oklahoma State (Nov. 12). Neither team is a top Vegas contender, but both will get a mention in the conversation.
Louisville
6 of 7
Clemson and Florida State are the undisputed powers of the ACC's Atlantic Division, but little brother Louisville could be the problem child.
Just like Wisconsin, the Cardinals can hand a conference foe an unanticipated loss that makes the headline contest a do-or-die outing for one team—or perhaps both.
Florida State comes to town for a Sept. 17 battle, and Louisville journeys to Clemson on Oct. 1. However, the Cardinals might not be finished with their theatrics.
Thursday night games are always dangerous. Houston, the highest-ranked "Group of Five" team, must survive Louisville on Nov. 17.
Auburn
7 of 7
Auburn's schedule is a recurring nightmare. It's not exactly bold to predict the Tigers won't survive 2016 undefeated.
Head coach Gus Malzahn's squad doesn't leave Jordan-Hare Stadium until October and hosts Clemson (Sept. 3) and LSU (Sept. 24) in the meantime. Though both Tigers teams could recover, that would be a bad loss.
Unfortunately for Auburn, not every weekend can be spent at home. It'll alternate between the road and Jordan-Hare, but the road tilts are Ole Miss (Oct. 29), Georgia (Nov. 12) and Alabama (Nov. 26).
Will the Tigers destroy a conference rival's dreams at the height of a playoff push? We know they'll have a few shots at it.
Stats from CFBStats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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