Welcome to the Read & Reaction College Football Playoff tracker!
Each week, we will update which teams are still standing in the college football race, who is technically alive, but unlikely to make it, and which teams have joined the dreaded ranks of the eliminated.
SEC
In control of their own destiny: Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky
Technically alive but unlikely: Auburn, Arkansas, and Ole Miss
Eliminated: Florida, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Missouri, LSU, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M
The contenders separated themselves from the pretenders this past weekend in SEC football. Bama stifled multiple fourth down attempts to roll over Ole Miss 42-21. Arkansas never had a chance as the Dawgs bulldozed the Hogs right out of the gates for another impressive shutout victory.
Florida falls in Lexington for the first time since 1986. Mike Leach and the Bulldogs pull the upset at Texas A&M. Auburn snaps its winless streak in Baton Rouge at 10 games downs LSU at Death Valley for the first time since 1999.
Key Games This Week:
- #13 Arkansas at #17 Ole Miss
- #2 Georgia at #18 Auburn
- LSU at #16 Kentucky
- #1 Alabama at Texas A&M
ACC
In control of their own destiny: Wake Forest,
Technically alive but unlikely: NC State, Pitt, and Virginia Tech.
Eliminated: Clemson, Louisville, Florida State, Boston College, Syracuse, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Duke, and Miami.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are going to be in the playoff conversation barring any surprises until at least early November. A win over Louisville pushed Wake to 5-0 with an upcoming stretch of Syracuse, Army, and Duke.
Pitt, NC State, and Va Tech have each suffered questionable losses, but remain unbeaten in conference.
Key Games This Week:
- #19 Wake Forest at Syracuse
- #14 Notre Dame at Virginia Tech
Big Ten
In control of their own destiny: Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Ohio State, and Iowa.
Technically alive but unlikely: Maryland.
Eliminated: Rutgers, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Wisconsin.
Iowa started the weekend off with an interception parade at Maryland. Indiana fared about as well against unbeaten Penn State. The Hawkeyes host the Nittany Lions in a battle of the unbeatens this weekend.
Michigan continued its impressive start to the 2021 season with a blowout win at Wisconsin. Scott Frost and the Huskers will host the Wolverines fresh off of a 56-7 win over Northwestern.
The Big Ten is wide open, but the Buckeyes are lurking and should enter the Penn State game at the end of October in full control of their own destiny.
Key Games This Week:
- #4 Penn State at #3 Iowa
- #9 Michigan at Nebraska
Big XII
In control of their own destiny: Oklahoma, Texas, and Oklahoma State.
Technically alive but unlikely: Baylor and Texas Tech,
Eliminated: Iowa State, TCU, Kansas State, West Virginia, and Kansas.
Oklahoma posts another one score victory, but redeems itself after two straight losses to Kansas State. Oklahoma State knocked off Baylor for a critical win to vault to the top of the Big XII standings alongside Oklahoma.
Texas outscored a TCU team which had won six of seven in the series and looks primed to push Oklahoma to the brink this weekend.
Key Games This Week:
- #6 Oklahoma vs #21 Texas (Cotton Bowl)
Pac-12
In control of their own destiny: Oregon, Arizona State
Technically alive but unlikely: Oregon State
Eliminated: Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Cal, Utah, USC, UCLA, Arizona, and Colorado.
Oregon falling at Stanford made for some great late Saturday afternoon drama, but a Ducks loss once again puts the conference at serious risk of missing the College Football Playoff. However, Oregon still has a win over Ohio State in its back pocket and, if they finish unbeaten down the stretch, the committee would likely forgive an overtime slip-up.
Arizona State’s loss to BYU may have dampened some enthusiasm from a national perspective, but Herm Edwards’ bunch smoked UCLA 42-23 to take firm control of the Pac-12 South race. Can the Sun Devils follow up a big win against Stanford on Thursday night?
Oregon State put the final nail in Clay Helton’s coffin at USC and a win over Washington last weekend has the Beavs alone at the top of the Pac-12 North.
Key Games This Week:
- Stanford at #22 Arizona State (Thursday)
- Oregon State at Washington State
Group of Five/Independent
In control of their own destiny: Cincinnati and BYU
Technically alive but unlikely: Coastal Carolina
Cincinnati scored perhaps the most significant win by a Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff era…well, outside of UCF’s national title win over Auburn in the non-national championship game. The Bearcats controlled the game from start to finish on Saturday in South Bend against the Irish, effectively eliminating Notre Dame from the playoff race. The Bearcats are legit. The Bearcats moved up to the #5 spot in the AP Poll. The Bearcats will move into a playoff spot at the conclusion of #3 Iowa vs #4 Penn State. If Cincy can take care of business, be prepared to witness the first Group of Five invite to the College Football Playoff.
BYU may not be far behind Cincinnati. The unscathed Cougars have a great opportunity to make a case in the next two weeks in matchups against Boise State and on the road at Baylor. A season finale at USC would allow BYU to run their win total against Power Five competition to 8-0 on the season should they run the table. I have a hard time envisioning both Cincinnati and BYU in the playoff, but it would be tough to discount an unbeaten BYU’s resume.
Coastal Carolina ‘s case for the College Football Playoff will be severely limited by their strength of schedule. However, since the Chanticleers are chasing a repeat unbeaten season, I’ll keep them around on this list out of respect for the accomplishment.
Key Games This Week:
- Boise State at #10 BYU
- Temple at #5 Cincinnati
- Coastal Carolina at Arkansas State
Alex Hirschler
Florida eliminated? Highly likely and justifiably so but still statistically possible to make it to the SEC Championship game and beyond. Pigs do occasionally fly as well.
Love read and reaction for the best, balanced Gator analytics and commentary!
Kathryn
This is why we should eliminate the playoffs. It distracts from what makes college football great. Instead of enjoying the regular season, the rivalries, maybe the conference races, and then the bowl season where teams are rewarded with a fun bowl trip for the season long efforts and traditions are rewarded; instead all you care about is this insane rush to a playoff where what makes college football is ignored in favor of trying to shoehorn college football into pro football and all the other inane sports that we ignore to watch the great traditions of college football.