DETROIT – Which teams will make the College Football Playoff in every possible combination of outcomes (all 32 of them) during the Power Five conference championship games this weekend?
There are eight teams left fighting for the four playoff spots, and seven of them will play in conference championship games this weekend.
If the four remaining undefeated teams -- Georgia, Michigan, Washington, and Florida State -- win, there won’t be any drama during Sunday’s selection show. But if Alabama, Louisville, and/or Iowa pull upsets on Saturday, expect some chaos.
Here are the five conference championship games:
- Big Ten: Michigan vs. Iowa
- SEC: Georgia vs. Alabama
- Pac-12: Oregon vs. Washington
- ACC: Florida State vs. Louisville
- Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma State
Iowa, Louisville, and Oklahoma State are out of playoff contention, but the rest could all end up in or out. Texas and Alabama probably do not control their own destinies.
Could the SEC get two teams? Yes. Could the SEC get left out completely? I do think it’s possible. Is Ohio State still alive? In two scenarios, I’m pretty sure the Buckeyes would get in.
Here are my predictions for which four teams would make the playoff in all 32 possible scenarios (generally assembled from most to least likely).
NOTE: The teams listed in the bold headings are the hypothetical winning teams in each scenario. So, for No. 1, I’m giving a prediction for if Michigan, Georgia, Florida State, Texas, and Oregon all win.
Michigan, Georgia, Florida State, Texas, Oregon
- Georgia (13-0)
- Michigan (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
Michigan, Georgia, Louisville, Texas, Oregon
- Georgia (13-0)
- Michigan (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Texas (12-1)
Michigan, Georgia, Florida State, Texas, Washington
- Georgia (13-0)
- Michigan (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
Michigan, Georgia, Louisville, Texas, Washington
- Georgia (13-0)
- Michigan (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Texas (12-1)
Michigan, Alabama, Florida State, Texas, Oregon
- Michigan (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Texas (12-1)
Michigan, Alabama, Louisville, Texas, Oregon
- Michigan (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Texas (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
Michigan, Alabama, Florida State, Texas, Washington
- Michigan (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Texas (12-1)
Michigan, Alabama, Louisville, Texas, Washington
- Michigan (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Texas (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
Iowa, Georgia, Florida State, Texas, Oregon
- Georgia (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Texas (12-1)
Iowa, Georgia, Louisville, Texas, Oregon
- Georgia (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Texas (12-1)
- Michigan (12-1) -- very tough call with Washington (12-1) here.
Michigan, Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Oregon
- Georgia (13-0)
- Michigan (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
Michigan, Georgia, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Oregon
- Georgia (13-0)
- Michigan (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Washington (12-1)
Iowa, Georgia, Florida State, Texas, Washington
- Georgia (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Texas (12-1)
Iowa, Georgia, Louisville, Texas, Washington
- Georgia (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Texas (12-1)
- Michigan (12-1)
Michigan, Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Washington
- Georgia (13-0)
- Michigan (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
Michigan, Georgia, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Washington
- Georgia (13-0)
- Michigan (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Ohio State (11-1)
Iowa, Alabama, Florida State, Texas, Oregon
- Florida State (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Texas (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
Iowa, Alabama, Louisville, Texas, Oregon
- Oregon (12-1)
- Texas (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
Iowa, Alabama, Florida State, Texas, Washington
- Washington (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Texas (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
Iowa, Alabama, Louisville, Texas, Washington
- Washington (13-0)
- Texas (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
Michigan, Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Oregon
- Michigan (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
Michigan, Alabama, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Oregon
- Michigan (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
Michigan, Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Washington
- Michigan (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Alabama (12-1)
Michigan, Alabama, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Washington
- Michigan (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Alabama (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
Iowa, Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Oregon
- Georgia (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Michigan (12-1) -- very tough call with Washington (12-1) here.
Iowa, Georgia, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Oregon
- Georgia (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Michigan (12-1) -- very tough call with Washington (12-1) here.
- Washington (12-1) -- very tough call with Michigan (12-1) here.
Iowa, Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Washington
- Georgia (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Michigan (12-1)
Iowa, Georgia, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Washington
- Georgia (13-0)
- Washington (13-0)
- Michigan (12-1)
- Ohio State (11-1)
Iowa, Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Oregon
- Florida State (13-0)
- Oregon (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
Iowa, Alabama, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Oregon
- Oregon (12-1)
- Alabama (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
- Michigan (12-1) -- very tough call with Washington (12-1) here.
Iowa, Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Washington
- Washington (13-0)
- Florida State (13-0)
- Alabama (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
Iowa, Alabama, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Washington
- Washington (13-0)
- Alabama (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
- Michigan (12-1)