We’re one month away from conference championship Saturday.
The four-team playoff is all but certain, and there are several scenarios that could complicate the situation even more.
Let’s take a look at some of the not-so-crazy what ifs. We only have a month to sort this out.
How it could happen: If LSU beats Alabama, Alabama beats Mississippi State and Auburn, and Ole Miss beats Mississippi State, we're there.
Impact: Familiarize yourselves with the SEC divisional tiebreaking procedures just in case. This could come down to the combined record against all SEC East teams.
How it could happen: Two-loss Missouri controls its destiny in the SEC East, and the schedule is negotiable (at Texas A&M, at Tennessee, vs. Arkansas). From there, could the Tigers do the unthinkable and win the SEC outright?
Impact: The Tigers are unranked in the College Football Playoff rankings. The SEC West champion would rather see Georgia (No. 20) in Atlanta.
How it could happen: If Alabama wins out, the Tide goes to Atlanta. Auburn, however, could win out and still not reach the SEC championship game. That happens if Mississippi State finishes unbeaten in the regular season.
Impact: The Tigers' opponents have a 70-32 record, the best among teams with one loss or less. Given Auburn's current playoff ranking, it would have a compelling case over a one-loss Michigan State, TCU, etc.
How it could happen: Baylor still controls its destiny in the Big 12 despite being ranked No. 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Bears also face Kansas State in Waco on Dec. 6.
Impact: TCU and Kansas State have better playoff credentials. Would the committee be willing to forgive the Bears for their loss at West Virginia?
How it could happen: The two-loss Badgers control their destiny, and Nebraska and Minnesota have to come to Madison. The trap game is a Nov. 22 date at Iowa.
I mpact: The winner of the Ohio State-Michigan State game would prefers one-loss Nebraska wins the Big Ten West so the Big Ten championship game has more oomph.
How it could happen: Either Ohio State or Nebraska could win out, win the Big Ten championship game and finish the season with one loss.
Impact: If that happens, then watch the Big Ten launch a political smear campaign against TCU, Kansas State, Baylor and the entire Big 12 conference for not having a championship game. Would the playoff committee be swayed by the Buckeyes or Cornhuskers' huge fan-bases?
How it could happen: The Sun Devils could win out and have wins against USC, Notre Dame, Stanford, Utah and Arizona in their pocket heading into a Pac-12 showdown with Oregon.
Impact: Assuming Arizona State wins out, it could have six wins against ranked teams. Would that be enough to be forgiven for a 62-27 loss against UCLA on Sept. 25?
How it could happen: It's pretty simple. Notre Dame sits at No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and the Irish have a chance to win out. What if Notre Dame and TCU were vying for that last spot?
Impact: Imagine that, the Roman Catholics vs. the Disciples of Christ for a playoff spot. This kind of thing wasn't confirmed in The Reformation. You can separate church and state, but how would you even begin to separate church and college football?
How it could happen: This is a long-shot, but Duke could make the ACC championship game and knock off defending national champion Florida State.
Impact: The basketball school everybody loves to hate would be loved for knocking off the college football team everybody loves to hate. That still might not be nearly enough to get the Blue Devils into the four-team playoff, but it would create even more chaos among the other Power 5 conferences.
How it could happen: If Mississippi State and Florida State trip up and the Thundering Herd wins out, then Marshall would be the lone unbeaten team left in the country.
Impact: Marshall won't get in the four-team playoff, but it would create serious conversation about the Group of 5's role in the four-team playoff landscape. This is a question the Playoff Committee probably didn't anticipate answering right away.
