College Football Playoff: Analyzing Every Team That Still Has a Chance

Jan 13, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Genral view of the College Football Playoff trophy during a press conference at Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

With the new College Football Playoff Rankings out, here is a list of every team that still has a chance to get in and what each one of them has to do.

The Selection Committee shocked everybody with their inaugural College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night, and in the process they sent a clear message to everybody else: Strength of Schedule matters.

That was obviously proven by their decision to put the Alabama Crimson Tide in at No. 4 despite having a loss on their resume.

These were just the first rankings, so lots of things are going to change over the next four weeks anyway, but it was a good starting point to see what the criteria is going to be for everybody in that room.

Based on our calculations, there are 27 teams that technically, somehow, could still squeak into the College Football Playoff with four weeks left in the season.

That includes two-loss teams from Power Five conferences along with all undefeated teams. Three losses, one loss as a Group of Five team unless there is a major exception, or two losses in a weaker division in a Power Five conference will prove costly no matter what.

There are technically 10 teams who still control their own destiny to get in, six teams with legitimate chances to still get in but need a little help, five that have an unlikely chance but can get in with some serious help, and another six that just have a shot in the dark but technically are not out of it.

More from Vols Football

• How to Win a GUARANTEED $200 Bonus Betting Just $5 on the Vols vs. Florida!
• Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory
• Week 3 SEC Power Rankings: Did Tennessee Football’s Win Help At All?
• Week 3 AP Polls: Why Did Tennessee Football Drop in the Polls?
• Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay

Seven teams come from the Big Ten, six come from the SEC, four come from the Big 12,three come from the ACC, three come from the Pac-12, three come from the American Athletic Conference, and one is Independent.

For a side note, the Toledo Rockets were initially in the College Football Playoff rankings but managed to lose right as they came out, so they are no longer in it. The Duke Blue Devils and Pittsburgh Panthers both have two losses but have no shot given that they play in the ACC Coastal Division.

So let’s take a look at everybody else. Here is every team with a chance to make the College Football Playoff and what they need to do.

Next: Teams That Control Their Own Destiny for the College Football Playoff