Bowl Predictions 2016: Projections for College Football Playoff Contenders
For some teams, the time is now to get into the College Football Playoff (CFP) conversation.
Some teams have slipped up and fallen off course, such as Houston and Ohio State, while other teams have moved up in the latest AP Top 25 poll.
Let's take a look the best 25 teams in college football as of Sunday:
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
| 1 | Alabama |
| 2 | Michigan |
| 3 | Clemson |
| 4 | Washington |
| 5 | Louisville |
| 6 | Ohio State |
| 7 | Nebraska |
| 8 | Baylor |
| 9 | Texas A&M |
| 10 | West Virginia |
| 11 | Wisconsin |
| 12 | Florida State |
| 13 | Boise State |
| 14 | Florida |
| 15 | Auburn |
| 16 | Oklahoma |
| 17 | Utah |
| 18 | Tennessee |
| 19 | LSU |
| 20 | Western Michigan |
| 21 | North Carolina |
| 22 | Navy |
| 23 | Colorado |
| 24 | Penn State |
| 25 | Virginia Tech |
With the BCS out of the picture, it's as simple as this: The best four teams will play against each other to decide who is the best of the best in the country.
As of Sunday night, the top four teams that will play in the CFP are the same four teams that lead off the AP's latest poll.
No. 1: Alabama
Is anyone surprised?
It doesn't seem like any team can stop the Crimson Tide at this point of the season besides the other three teams mentioned below. But even against the best in the nation, Alabama hasn't had much trouble dismantling its opponents through eight games.
Even its defense is getting in on the fun.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has improved every game this season not only statistically, but also with his decision-making. The true freshman has completed 63.1 percent of his passes this season with 11 touchdowns to five interceptions.
The most impressive aspect of his game has been his ability to scramble and create space when plays break down, rushing for 521 yards and nine touchdowns.
Alabama and its offense, with Hurts under center, is becoming a well-oiled machine as the season moves on. What's even scarier? Hurts still has two more seasons of college football before his senior year comes around.
No. 2: Michigan
The No. 2 position in the CFP changed when Ohio State lost to Penn State on Saturday.
That blocked field goal may be the defining play of the Buckeyes' season. Now ranked No. 6 in the AP's latest Top 25 poll, it would take some massive turnover at the top of the food chain for the Buckeyes to get back into the playoff conversation.
Perhaps in the last game of the season against the new No. 2 team in the nation.
Michigan is good. Really good. With a suffocating defense and arguably the most versatile and athletic player in college football, Jabrill Peppers, the Wolverines could go all the way this season.
Besides quarterback Lamar Jackson at Louisville, the best college football player in the country is Peppers. Michigan still has some tough games on its schedule in the Buckeyes and Michigan State. However, it would be a shock if the Wolverines don't at least stay undefeated going into the last game of the season against their archenemy, Ohio State.
No. 3: Clemson
The runner-ups from last year, the Clemson Tigers are right back in the CFP fold after starting this season 7-0 heading into their bye week.
With a week off to study up and prepare for No. 12 Florida State, Clemson will have its hands full against an ACC rival. But in reality, the Tigers should have no problem going past the Seminoles as long as they don't turn over the football.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson is not having the same kind of year that made him a Heisman Trophy hopeful in 2015, but he's still performing well despite the team's relatively slow start to the season.
Over his last five games, Watson has thrown for 16 touchdowns to five interceptions, better than a 3-1 ratio. He's completed at least 60 percent of his passes during that span as the Tigers have shown the college football landscape that they're back in business.
It helps Clemson's bid for the CFP to stay undefeated, but it also helps that the ACC has been competitive this year.
Four other ACC schools are ranked in the AP Top 25 poll (No. 5 Louisville, No. 12 Florida State, No. 21 North Carolina and No. 25 Virginia Tech). The Tigers are ranked third but could easily find themselves in the No. 2 conversation with a dominant win over Florida State next weekend.
No. 4: Washington
Watch out for those Huskies, America.
One of the most fundamentally sound college football teams led by one of the best coaches in the nation in Chris Petersen, Washington has taken the Pac-12 by storm, becoming the team to beat on the West Coast of the United States.
The combination of quarterback Jake Browning and wide receiver Dante Pettis has been remarkable to watch, as the two have exceeded expectations heading into the final stretch of the season. On the year, Browning has earned himself the right to garner some Heisman attention through his efficiency alone (26 touchdowns, two interceptions).
Completing 68.6 percent of his passes, Browning has been finding his wideouts all season long, and Pettis has been a huge reason why Browning has made so many big plays with his arm. With eight touchdowns and 457 yards, Pettis has been a superb aerial threat for the Huskies offense.
The Huskies still have to take on the likes of Utah, USC and California to close out the season, but they have done little to give us any doubt that they won't be able to stay undefeated and put themselves in the conversation for the CFP.
If they remain at No. 4 heading into the playoff and the other three teams mentioned in this list stay the course, then the Huskies will take on the Crimson Tide while Michigan face off against Clemson.
It's going to get really interesting soon.
All player stats are courtesy of ESPN.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
