The Current Undefeated Team Most Likely to Not Make the College Football Playoff
Five weeks are left in the 2016 college football season. Five undefeated teams remain. At least one of them won't earn a place in the College Football Playoff.
But there's a technicality.
Alabama, Michigan, Clemson and Washington represent the power conferences, while Western Michigan is the lone unblemished "Group of Five" program. That affiliation may be the ultimate downfall for the Broncos, even if they finish 13-0 with a MAC title.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Fair or not, for the purposes of this article, we'll focus on the four other teams. They're all in excellent positions to reach the championship tournament—and might do so—but if you have to pick one program to miss out on the CFP, there's a clear choice.
| Alabama | 8-0 | @ LSU | Miss. State | Chattanooga | Auburn |
| Michigan | 8-0 | Maryland | @ Iowa | Indiana | @ Ohio State |
| Clemson | 8-0 | Syracuse | Pitt | @ Wake Forest | South Carolina |
| Washington | 8-0 | @ Cal | USC | Arizona State | @ Wash. State |
Alabama—despite being the lone unbeaten with two remaining games against Top 15 opponents—has separated itself from the rest of the nation. Since a 21-point comeback at Ole Miss, the Crimson Tide haven't won a game by fewer than 19 points.
The final month is intriguing because both LSU and Auburn only have one conference loss. If either team defeats the Tide, particularly Auburn, tiebreakers would become relevant.
Long story short, the combination of an Alabama win over LSU and an undefeated Texas A&M finish would send the Tide to the SEC Championship Game. However, Alabama hasn't showed any signs that a lapse is coming anyway.
The defense hasn't allowed more than 114 rushing yards or 3.1 yards per carry in a game. LSU and Auburn both have offenses that are dependent on the success of the ground game, and neither team can win a shootout against Alabama through the air.
As long as Nick Saban's team reaches the SEC title game and wins, the Tide are headed to the playoff for the third straight year. They'll probably see a familiar foe, too.
Now that Clemson has completed the Atlantic Division sweep of Louisville and Florida State, Dabo Swinney and Co. are the closest thing to a lock as possible.
Ugly wins be darned, 8-0 is 8-0.
Granted, the Tigers aren't a complete certainty because of those repeated shaky performances.
Deshaun Watson, for example, has already thrown 10 interceptions this year. During his Heisman-finalist 2015 campaign, Watson tossed 11 picks before the ballots were due.
Plus, last season Clemson had just three games with one-score margins of victory before the conference championship and College Football Playoff. Five of the Tigers' eight games in 2016 have included one-score margins of victory, and that trend probably isn't ending soon.
But they keep finding a way.
While no slate is easy, taking on Syracuse, Pitt, Wake Forest and South Carolina is favorable. Even with another frustrating showing or two, Clemson should survive the month at 4-0 because Watson has consistently carried the team in clutch situations.
Washington, on the other hand, has largely avoided tense moments. Other than two close victories—and that's to be expected, just not at Clemson's rate—the Huskies have obliterated opponents by an average score of 50.5-12.3.
Behind an efficient Jake Browning, the offense is quietly explosive; he's accounted for 32 touchdowns while throwing a mere three interceptions. Speedster John Ross has been everything Washington needed since returning from an injury that cost him 2015.
The challenge for the Huskies is navigating a November stretch that will constantly test the secondary. Cal and Washington State attack with volume and quality, and USC boasts JuJu Smith-Schuster, one of the top receiver prospects for the NFL draft.
However, the unit features three Sunday-bound players—Budda Baker, Sidney Jones and Kevin King—and is ranked sixth nationally, allowing a meager 5.6 yards per attempt.
"Budda Baker gets the attention, but this entire Washington secondary is nice.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) October 29, 2016"
Even if the secondary struggles once, Washington's overall balance should help the team overcome a poor day. Twice could be an issue, but expecting that would be a disservice to the Huskies.
And then there's Michigan.
Colorado put a three-quarter scare into the Wolverines, who clipped a stout Wisconsin team, held off a late charge from Michigan State and have otherwise walloped the opposition.
Over the next three weeks, Jim Harbaugh's club will take on Maryland, Iowa and Indiana. Blowouts aren't likely, but the Maize and Blue should dispatch each of those programs relatively swiftly.
And then there's Ohio State.
If Michigan triumphs in Columbus, a trend will be tattered, and a streak will be shattered. The Buckeyes own 13 of the last 15 wins in the series, and they've not fallen at home to the Wolverines since 2000.
Of the 16 remaining games for the undefeated power-conference programs, this showdown presents the largest unknown. Except the result—barring a second unforeseen Ohio State loss—is clear, as Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch noted:
If that wonderful, glorious chaos ensues, we might need to give Western Michigan a serious look as the ultimate party crasher.
All recruiting information via Scout.com. 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.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
