B/R CFB Community: Can Jim Harbaugh Crash the College Football Playoff?
In less than a month, the College Football Playoff selection committee will unveil its first crack at its Top 25. While completely unnecessary until the rankings are final, this yearly ritual is a reminder that the exercise is coming, the season is progressing, and the playoff will be here before we know it.
Many likely penciled Alabama in their playoff shortly after the season began. Some likely did it much earlier than that. The Crimson Tide's loss, however, was the latest shake-up in a series of shake-ups that have defined the 2021 season.
And so, as we look ahead, one can't help but wonder what teams outside of the top four of the AP poll—Georgia, Iowa, Cincinnati and Oklahoma—will ultimately crawl their way into the final four when the playoff is decided.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
That very question was posed to our B/R readers as we transition into Week 7. Some took the obvious path; Others proved to be a bit more daring.
Here were their responses with accompanying feedback.
Roll Dang Recovery
User: @PRINCEZZ66
Response: Bama lol that's easy
Current AP Poll Rank: No. 5
Maybe it is that easy.
History says that this is the correct answer. In fact, just imagining the College Football Playoff without Alabama feels strange, which speaks to the level of dominance Nick Saban has normalized in Tuscaloosa.
But let's start with the warts. Yes, Alabama has some. They don't look like the warts most college football programs have, although they feel slightly more pronounced than usual.
Against Texas A&M, we witnessed a defense with holes, an offense that was prone to mistakes and a team that normally specializes in discipline look somewhat out of sorts.
To be clear, I'm grading harshly. Alabama is judged on a different level than any other team in any other sport; the program has been that good.
And, yes, the Crimson Tide can still make the playoff. Alabama can also still win a national championship. (Of course it can.)
That said, the remaining schedule isn't a cakewalk. Playing at Mississippi State will be a peculiar test this week. Alabama also plays Tennessee, which looks much improved. I'm not sure what we'll get with LSU, but it's a matchup worth mentioning.
And games against Arkansas and Auburn close out the year. A game against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game would likely come next.
If the Crimson Tide win out, they're in. Heck, they're probably the No. 1 seed. If they lose another game, the picture starts to look much different.
It's not time to panic. But the major mulligan is gone, and that changes the discussion plenty.
The New-and-Improved Buckeyes
User: @matt5151
Response: Ohio State will win the Big Ten and be in the playoff
Current AP Poll Rank: No. 6
This sport moves quickly.
After all, we buried the Buckeyes a little more than a month ago when they lost outright to Oregon at home.
Now? It's hard not to find a place for Ohio State.
In the past three games, the Buckeyes have outscored opponents 177-37. Granted, those three opponents were Akron, Rutgers and Maryland.
Still, the turnaround on both sides of the ball is noteworthy even if you question the competition—and you should.
The defense looks improved. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is healthy and appears far more comfortable. Add in running back TreVeyon Henderson and the remarkable talent at wide receiver, and you have a delightful formula.
For whatever reason, that formula didn't seem to work early on. And although things seem to be vastly improved as the Buckeyes enjoy a bye week, the remaining schedule still has plenty of teeth.
After playing at Indiana—a team that gave Ohio State fits last season—the Buckeyes will play Penn State, at a vastly improved Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State and at Michigan. (Three of those teams are ranked in the Top 10 of the AP poll.)
A loss in any of those games could spell trouble in reaching the Big Ten Championship Game. And if that is the case, Ohio State would have to state its case from the couch.
Of course, Ryan Day's team can still win out. In terms of overall roster talent, this is far and away the best in the Big Ten. But I also hesitate to simply toss it in at this point. More data points are needed, and thankfully those data points are coming quickly.
Jim Harbaugh's Miraculous Makeover
User: @rharris21
Response: Michigan
Current AP Poll Rank: No. 8
There is nothing wrong with a one-word answer. In this instance, the one word provided is plenty loud.
Just imagine Jim Harbaugh, less than a year removed from a 2-4 record and lots of noise about his job security at Michigan, bulldozing his way into the playoff.
The Wolverines are 6-0. Included in those six victories are wins over Washington, Wisconsin and Nebraska.
While those might not be dominant teams, the performance (and rebound) has been impressive. In fact, you could make the argument—and a strong one—that Michigan should be ranked higher in the AP poll.
Like Ohio State, the Wolverines' remaining schedule is a doozy. At the end of the month, Michigan will play at Michigan State. A few weeks later, the Wolverines will play at Penn State.
Then, to close out the year, they'll play Ohio State at home. That rivalry, as we know, has not gone well in recent years.
Anything is possible. Although this offense still needs to become more explosive to crack the playoff, the defense, ranked No. 9 nationally in points allowed per game, has the talent to make life on the opposing team somewhat miserable.
To me, it still feels possible—even likely—that Michigan will drop at least one game. The fact that we are two months into the year and contemplating a College Football Playoff visit for Harbaugh, however, is a significant development.
A playoff visit would still surprise, although it's by no means impossible.
The Wild-Card Wildcats
User: @chelm71
Response: UK is a wildcard team flying under the radar that is playing incredible ball
Current AP Poll Rank: No. 11
The fact that Kentucky is still ranked outside the Top 10 in the AP poll is criminal.
With wins over Florida and LSU, one could argue that Kentucky's resume is not terribly different from Iowa's. (And I say this as someone who really likes Iowa's team.)
With that in the open, this conversation is likely to change one way or another come Saturday night. Kentucky plays at Georgia, the fellow unbeaten SEC East team. While the outcome of this game won't immediately decide the division, it'll certainly be an enormous piece of the puzzle.
The oddsmakers don't believe Kentucky has much of a chance. The Wildcats are more than a three-touchdown underdog. Although this is a matchup between two teams ranked in the Top 11, an upset would be shocking.
If Kentucky wins, everything changes.
The College Football Playoff becomes not just possible; it becomes likely.
But even if Kentucky plays a competitive game in defeat, I wonder how this team will be viewed with one loss.
The remaining games are reasonable by comparison. And although it would miss out on the SEC Championship Game, could it wiggle in with some madness?
Well, maybe. But probably not.
Sadly, so much of this is a beauty contest. And Kentucky, even now, isn't getting nearly enough credit for the season it has had.
Sparty On
User: @josephbrendel
Response: Michigan State
Current AP Poll Rank: No. 10
On the topic of unbeaten teams trying to scratch and claw their way up the rankings, enter Michigan State.
The Spartans are 6-0, one of the biggest surprises in college football and certainly poised to surpass all reasonable 2021 expectations. Oh, and Michigan State might have the best running back in college football. Kenneth Walker III is already approaching 1,000 yards and is a legitimate Heisman candidate.
There is a ton to like about this team and season. Mel Tucker has done a fabulous job with a program that has made the College Football Playoff in the past. (This last point is important because not many have.)
My concern is the competition. The best win to date is probably over Nebraska, and it's a game Sparty could have (and perhaps should have) lost.
Moving forward, I just don't know how this will translate. Games at Indiana, against Michigan, at Ohio State and against Penn State are still to come.
Yuck.
I love the story. I want them to keep winning. I want Walker to continue to run wild.
But a playoff appearance would still be one of the greatest triumphs the sport has ever seen.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
