Preview of College Football Week Five "Playoff" Games

As Florida found out last week, every regular season game is a potential elimination game for a highly ranked team, even if you are a 23-point favorite at home. Still, the weekly meetings between ranked teams are games we know in advance are going to have a significant impact on the national championship because one of the teams will probably be knocked out of the race altogether. That's why I call them "playoff" games.

This week's matchups:

Auburn (13) at Vanderbilt (19)

Interesting SEC matchup between a disappointing Auburn team and a truly surprising Vanderbilt team. It seems like every year one or two of the bottom tier SEC programs rise up to contend. Last year it was Kentucky and South Carolina. This year it's Vandy and Ole Miss.

If Auburn loses again, it isn't completely knocked out, but faces the same improbable road to the NC game that LSU took last year. And remember, LSU would have never recovered from its two losses if it hadn't been the overwhelming preseason No. 1 and dominated its games prior to the upset at Kentucky. A two-loss Auburn team would face an even steeper climb back to the top. Of course, if Auburn wins out, it will be a definite contender.

If Vandy wins, it is in great position to make a run into the top 10. It still faces Georgia, Florida, and potentially the SEC West champ in Atlanta. Wouldn't that be something to see Vandy in the SEC Championship game? They should make Steve Spurrier do the coin toss at midfield.

Ohio State (14) at Wisconsin (18)

The Beavers let me down last week. They were my dark horse to go undefeated. Couldn't handle Penn State on the road, though. Honestly, I can't see either of these teams getting back in the mix. Even with a win, I think the best Wisconsin can hope for now is a Big Ten Championship.

On the other hand, there is still a reasonable chance for Ohio State. The Buckeyes at least face Penn State, whom they hope will still be ranked as high as sixth when they meet in Columbus on Oct. 25. Should be a good game.

The Buckeyes usually are overranked by at least four spots due to voter bias, so if they annihilate PSU—with Pryor and Wells shining—I could see them having a shot. Of course, they will need to win out in impressive fashion and get a lot of help from the other top contenders.

Oregon (22) at USC (9)

These are two very good one-loss teams. USC reminds me a lot of LSU last year. Preseason consensus No. 1 with "NFL caliber" players, but stumbled badly. USC is by no means out of NC contention, mostly by virtue of the early No. 1 ranking. Oregon is the only team left on the Trojans' schedule that is currently ranked, so they need to not just win, but make a statement on Saturday night.

A victory for Oregon would catapult them perhaps as high as top 10, depending on how the top 10 fares this week. If Oregon wins out, who knows?

BYU

Check out Brad Edwards' stuff at ESPN.com. He's a college football researcher there and always has something interesting to say. He points out that eighth-ranked BYU is in a realistic position to challenge for the No. 1 or No. 2 spot.

"BYU's ranking is the highest a non-BCS team has been ranked at this stage of the season in the BCS era, and it's pretty close to where the Cougars were ranked (sixth, by the coaches; seventh, by the AP, on Oct. 1) when they won their national title in 1984."

BYU vs. Vandy for the national title? I can dig it.

Enjoy everybody!