CFB Roundup: Thinning the Herd

Stoney Keeley thinks we're down to 13 teams that have an even astronomical shot at the College Football Playoff.

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Let’s dive into the week that was in college football and hit all the highlights on the SoBros Network’s College Football Roundup.


*It’s been a great season so far, and while some of the action was hot and heavy on Saturday, it felt like it went mostly chalk without any major upsets that had major ramifications. A few teams went from “long shot contenders” to “pretty much officially eliminated” this weekend, but for the most part, the sport’s elite teams remain among the elite. With the College Football Playoff committee’s first set of rankings due to drop tomorrow night, I figured this was as good a time as any to reset and revisit where the race is right now. As the season wears on, we’re beginning to thin the herd a bit. I’d say we’re down to 13 playoff contenders ranging from “favorites” to “would need a miracle and a million dominos to fall a certain way to get in, but still I guess technically mathematically alive.” Eight of these are pretty obvious:

  1. Tennessee Volunteers – Wrecked the Kentucky Wildcats.
  2. Georgia Bulldogs – Ripped out the hearts of the Florida Gators.
  3. Ohio State Buckeyes – Survived an admirable effort from the Penn State Nittany Lions.
  4. Clemson Tigers – Made it through the toughest part of their schedule unscathed.
  5. Michigan Wolverines – Beat up on the Michigan State Spartans.
  6. Alabama Crimson Tide – Still Alabama.
  7. TCU Horned Frogs – Simply electric, stay undefeated after a bit of a scare against the West Virginia Mountaineers.
  8. Oregon Ducks – Have turned the season around after being trounced by Georgia and are now physically beating the fuck out of people.

But, after Penn State, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, and Syracuse officially joined the ranks of the “out of the hunt” crowd this weekend, I think there are five more teams still alive in the hunt that we’re not talking about. With one loss each, and a visible path to a playoff spot, I don’t think we can quite count the USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, and Ole Miss Rebels out just yet. Then, there are a couple of teams in power five conferences who have one loss and will be contending for a conference title in the Illinois Fighting Illini and North Carolina Tar Heels. I don’t think any of these teams will actually be in the hunt a month from now, but I’m not ready to call their season dead yet either. You tellin’ me if Illinois runs the table and upsets Ohio State/Michigan in the Big Ten Championship, they wouldn’t at least earn consideration? I’m just saying. That’s my number – we have 13 teams left.

*If you don’t love Lane Kiffin in the SEC, then I don’t know what to tell you, folks. This man was chompin’ at the bit to hand Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies another loss after Fisher called him a clown in the offseason. Ole Miss has been one of the biggest overachievers of the season so far. Meanwhile, the Aggies program is in shambles right now. Kiffin really laid into Fisher in the postgame festivities, saying that rushing for 390 against a bunch of five-stars was pretty good. This man doesn’t forget. He keeps receipts, and I’ll tell you what right now, he’s the best damn troll in the SEC. This league is better with him in it. You love to see it.

*Man, just when I had turned the corner on the South Carolina Gamecocks… I talked so much shit about that team all season. Even when they upset Kentucky, I made excuses for the Wildcats. But, I finally came around on them after they beat Texas A&M. And, of course, as soon as I do, they decide to lose to the Missouri Tigers in embarrassing fashion. Glad to see the Keeley Jinx is still alive and well.

*I missed the entirety of Michigan-Michigan State, but this shit happened and everyone on college football Twitter is talking about it, so I figure I at least have to share the clip, right? I want to be a credible journalist even though I was busy running a livestream Saturday night and spent the morning out at Pumpkinfest in Franklin…

*How about my MTSU Blue Raiders inching one game closer to a bowl bid after going on the road and upsetting the UTEP Miners?! I absolutely cannot get a beat on this team, and have no idea if it’s actually good or not, but I will say that they’re sitting there at 4-4 with games left against Louisiana Tech, Charlotte, FAU, and FIU. I might have to start thinking about my travel arrangements for the Bahamas…

*Three cheers for our meme of the week:

And if you think you had a tough weekend, imagine being this guy:

My Current Bowl Projections

  • Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Georgia
  • Peach Bowl: Tennessee vs. Clemson
  • National Championship:  Tennessee vs. Ohio State
  • Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Oregon
  • Orange Bowl: North Carolina vs. Ole Miss
  • Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. TCU
  • Cotton Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Tulane

If you haven’t already, be sure to go subscribe to the College Football Roundup Podcast, on which Steven McCash and myself break down all the action from the college football world and look ahead to the week to come. 

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.

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