BCS Rankings: Predicting the Results of a 16-Team Playoff in 2011

As every year goes by, the college football world continues to cry out for a college football playoff. Sports fans get to see the excitement of March Madness every year and wonder what that would be like for their sport.

With another season almost half way over, here is a look at what at potential 16-team playoff would look like and the possible match ups we could see. 

1st Round: No. 1 LSU vs No. 16 Arkansas State

In the opening game of the playoff, the SEC Champion LSU Tigers would go up against the Sun Belt's best, Arkansas State.

While making it to the playoff is nice for the Red Wolves, the Tigers get ahead early and coast to an easy win in the first round.

LSU 47 Arkansas State 6

1st Round: No. 8 Houston vs No. 9 Oklahoma

In the next game of the playoff, Oklahoma gets back in the title hunt but goes up against Conference USA champion, Houston. 

While neither teams offense struggles to put up points, the Cougars have not seen a defense like Oklahoma's and ultimately the Sooners are able to get a couple extra stops to secure a win.

Oklahoma 38 Houston 31

1st Round: No. 5 Wisconsin vs No. 12 Nevada

Despite dropping a game in he middle of the year to Michigan State, Wisconsin rebounds nicely to take the Big 10 crown and draws WAC Champion, Nevada, in the first round.

The running game of the Badgers combined with the playmaking ability of Russell Wilson is just too much for the Wolf Pack who keep it close until the half but then the Badgers blow it wide open.

Wisconsin 47 Nevada 24

1st Round: No. 4 Clemson vs No. 13 Virginia Tech

This two teams enter the game extremely familiar with each other as they just played the previous week. Clemson continued their dream season by knocking off the Hokies in the ACC Championship but we get a rematch the very next week.

The two teams end up going back and forth but ultimately, Virginia Tech's special teams come up with a play to put the Hokies ahead for good and give us our first upset.

Virginia Tech 31 Clemson 27

1st Round: No. 2 Oklahoma State vs No. 15 Toledo

Big 12 champion Oklahoma State comes into this game off of a huge win over rival Oklahoma. Toledo enters the tournament as MAC Champions but the draw is bad news for them.

The Cowboys have way too many offensive weapons for the Rockets to keep up with and this game is over by the half.

Oklahoma State 55 Toledo 24

1st Round: No. 7 Oregon vs No. 10 Michigan State

When Michigan State and Oregon are paired against each other, it is a great matchup of offense versus defense. 

The Spartans enter the game with an outstanding defensive front and know that the Ducks have struggled with strong physical teams. 

On the other hand, Oregon is fully healthy and a steady diet of LaMichael James and Darron Thomas ends up being too much for the Spartans.

Oregon 47 Michigan State 31

1st Round: No. 3 Boise State vs No. 14 Cincinnati

Boise State finally gets what they have been waiting for, a shot at the national championship. 

In the opening round, Boise State draws Big East Champion Cincinnati and while the game remains close early, Kellen Moore is able to settle in and start to pick apart the Bearcats defense.

Boise State 48 Cincinnati 27

1st Round: No. 6 Stanford vs No. 11 Alabama

Pac- 12 Champion Stanford rolls into this game and out of all the conference champions, gets the most difficult draw in the playoff. 

Alabama is coming off of a one-loss season and has the defense to contain Andrew Luck and just enough offense to squeak out a close victory.

Alabama 26 Stanford 24

2nd Round: No. 1 LSU vs No. 9 Oklahoma

As the second round begins, college football fans start to get a taste of some of the amazing matchups that would occur in a playoff. 

To kick things offense, the LSU Tigers go up against Oklahoma in a big time game. 

In this game, LSU does a nice job of getting to quarterback Landry Jones and forcing some early turnovers, and eventually are able to put the game away by running out the clock on a long drive.

LSU 23 Oklahoma 21

2nd Round: No. 5 Wisconsin vs No. 13 Virginia Tech

Wisconsin and Virginia Tech go at it next in the second round. Both teams have strong offense and defenses that can lock teams down by the Badgers come out of the gates flat. 

Behind a strong running game, the Hokies give Wisconsin a taste of their own medicine and pound the ball all the way to a win. 

Virginia Tech 34 Wisconsin 24

2nd Round: No. 2 Oklahoma State vs No. 7 Oregon

The scoreboard operator better be on their toes as the Oregon Ducks and Oklahoma State Cowboys matchup next. 

In a game that will be so heavily focused on the explosive offenses these two teams have, ultimately the difference comes down to the Oregon defense and their ability to bend but not break.

Oregon 56 Oklahoma State 44

2nd Round: No. 11 Alabama vs No. 3 Boise State

While Boise State wanted their shot at the title, they have yet to face a team with the skill of Alabama. 

Alabama is able to use their size and strength to gain an early advantage and Nick Saban puts together an amazing defensive game plan to slow down the passing attack of Kellen Moore.

Alabama 31 Boise State 17

3rd Round: No. 1 LSU vs No. 13 Virginia Tech

As they have done for most of the season, LSU was steamrolled their way through their schedule and now the tournament. 

In the first semifinal, LSU faces the Hokies and proves that they are in a completely different class than everyone else. Behind a solid defensive performance and workmen-like offensive performance, the Tigers advance to the national championship.

LSU 34 Virginia Tech 17

3rd Round: No. 7 Oregon vs No. 11 Alabama

In the last semifinal, Oregon and Alabama compete for the last spot in the national title game. Oregon has seen a lot of the SEC over the past 12 months and the common theme has been the Ducks ability to keep things close, but eventually the size and strength and neutralized their speed.

This game ends up being no different as the Ducks are slowed down on the offensive side of the ball and Alabama is able to put up enough points to get the win.

With the win, Alabama and LSU are ready to go at it in a rematch of what might have been the game of the year in early November. 

Alabama 27 Oregon 25

National Championship: No. 1 LSU vs No. 11 Alabama

In early November, LSU and Alabama went head to head in one of the best games of the year. With a 16-team playoff, these two teams find a way to navigate through the brackets and find themselves going up against each other once again.

LSU did an amazing job of getting through not only a difficult out of conference schedule, but also went undefeated in the SEC. After winning three rounds of playoff football, the Tigers are finally out of steam. 

Alabama and LSU play tight into the fourth quarter but a defensive stand by the Crimson Tide helps them win another national title.

Alabama 24 LSU 23