Four Potential Pathways to the College Football Playoff

Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and TCU are the top four teams in the College Football Playoff Committee's rankings. There are many scenarios for the final four that will play for national championship.

TCU has been a surprise team all year. They play Texas, Baylor and Iowa State. Last season, Cincinnati had a much easier schedule. TCU has played a lighter schedule this year and has to prove themselves as a non-traditional playoff power. They have to play against Texas and Baylor on the road and then at home against Iowa.

The Michigan Wolverines are trying to win the Big Ten championship and make the College Football Playoff. They play against Nebraska, Illinois and Ohio State. Illinois is the only team ranked in the West division. Iowa lost to Michigan 27-14 this year.

Oregon is undefeated this season and Bo Nix has already set his highest single season touchdown mark (22). Bo has an immaculate 73.3% completion percentage and is helping the Oregon offense explode for 43.1 points per game. The Ducks give up a lot of points and their defense is their Achilles heel. USC's Caleb Williams has a 28-1 touchdown to interception ratio and could find success against the Ducks' defense.

The path is to win the shootout vs. USC and play in the Pac-12 championship game. The remaining schedule is against Washington, vs Utah, and @ Oregon State.

USC Trojans have been an incredible offense this season. They have to beat UCLA and Notre Dame to make it to the playoffs. TCU and Tennessee are unlikely to get into the playoff. LSU could upset Georgia in the SEC championship game. The other possibilities are Ohio State, Michigan, TCU, LSU, and Georgia. The last one is a possibility. It would be surprising to see USC not make the college football playoff, but it's not impossible.

The path for the team is to win the Pac-12 and avoid TCU and Tennessee.

LSU Tigers are a dark horse in the race for a playoff spot. They are first in SEC West with a 5-1 conference record. If they beat Georgia in December, they would have the best two wins of any team in college football.

The path to the conference championship is to beat the undefeated Georgia Bulldogs.