Eight College Football Playoff scenarios for 2020 conference championship weekend

The remaining School Football Playoff pairings will be introduced in just a person 7 days.

The 2020 higher education soccer period continues with the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there stays uncertainty about in which people semifinals will be performed. Convention championship 7 days is here, having said that, and the eight playoff eventualities remaining depend on the effects of 3 convention championship game titles.

Ohio State (5-) requires on Northwestern (six-one) in the Significant Ten championship game at noon ET on Dec. 19, and that will established the tone for the other two top rated-10 matchups: No. two Notre Dame (10-) vs. No. three Clemson (nine-one) in the ACC championship rematch from their double-extra time thriller on Nov. 7 and No. one Alabama (10-) vs. Florida (eight-two) in primetime in the SEC championship game. But who understands in which the Gators rank soon after their upset reduction to LSU?

Extra: How to watch CFP Selection Demonstrate

The rest of the Playoff contenders are observing people effects. Listed here are the eight eventualities that will unfold based mostly off people 3 game titles:

Playoff state of affairs No. one

—Alabama beats Florida
—Clemson beats Notre Dame
—Ohio State beats Northwestern.

one. Alabama (11-)
two. Clemson (10-one)
three. Ohio State (six-)
four. Notre Dame (10-one)

This is the anticipated buy of functions for next Saturday. If it comes about, then the score amongst Clemson and Notre Dame gets to be paramount. As very long as the Irish aren’t blown out in this game, they will possible be the fourth team in the Playoff. The only query will be the pairings. We are guessing Clemson and Notre Dame get split up, but that is not a guarantee both.

Playoff state of affairs No. two

—Alabama beats Florida
—Notre Dame beats Clemson
—Ohio State beats Northwestern.

one. Alabama (11-)
two. Notre Dame (11-)
three. Ohio State (six-)
four. Texas A&M (eight-one), Cincinnati (nine-) or USC (six-)

If the Irish can sweep Clemson, then the two-reduction Tigers would slip out of the Playoff for the initially time in 6 years. That fourth location, having said that, gets to be a matter of a multi-layered discussion: It truly is both a person-reduction Texas A&M or unbeaten, AAC winner Cincinnati, or unbeaten, Pac-12 winner USC. That sparks one more discussion about the Team of 5’s put in a process that has excluded them because its inception in 2014.

Extra: Texas A&M’s CFP rooting guideline

Playoff state of affairs No. three

—Florida beats Alabama
—Notre Dame beats Clemson
—Ohio State beats Northwestern.

one. Notre Dame (11-)
two. Ohio State (six-)
three. Alabama (10-one)
four. Florida (nine-two), Texas A&M (eight-one), Cincinnati (nine-) or USC (six-)

This is the hurt accomplished by Florida’s reduction. Even with a victory against Alabama, the Gators would possible slide at the rear of Alabama in the remaining rankings. That would lead to a large discussion for the remaining location (together with with eight-one Texas A&M, which has a head-to-head victory in excess of the Gators, also). Relevant: Don’t forget when Penn State conquer Ohio State head to head and gained the Significant Ten championship in 2016? The Buckeyes even now received in due to the fact they were being a a person-reduction team, whilst Penn State completed fifth..

Playoff state of affairs No. four

—Florida beats Alabama
—Clemson beats Notre Dame
—Ohio State beats Northwestern.

one. Clemson (10-one)
two. Ohio State (six-)
three. Alabama (10-one), Notre Dame (10-one), Texas A&M (eight-one) or Florida (nine-two)
four. Alabama (10-one), Notre Dame (10-one), Texas A&M (eight-one) or Florida (nine-two)

This a person is going to make an exciting argument for people remaining two spots. The committee could choose the effortless way out and set Alabama and Notre Dame in, which would de-emphasize the SEC championship. Or it could choose the Gators, but at whose cost? The Crimson Tide and Irish are the only two Ability 5 educational facilities that completed 10- in the normal period. Texas A&M possible has the worst possibility to make the Playoff in this state of affairs. The scores will make a difference.

Extra:

Playoff state of affairs No. 5

—Alabama beats Florida
—Notre Dame beats Clemson
—Northwestern beats Ohio State.

one. Alabama (11-)
two. Notre Dame (11-)
three. Texas A&M (eight-one), Cincinnati (nine-), Northwestern (7-one) or USC (six-)
four. Texas A&M (eight-one), Cincinnati (nine-), Northwestern (7-one) or USC (six-)

Any state of affairs involving the Buckeyes losing is unlikely — but we’ll run by them anyway, starting with the most chaotic state of affairs of all. This would knock the Buckeyes out, making that same exciting argument for the remaining two spots. Who do you set in?

Just one-reduction Texas A&M is in the greatest position to sneak in for now. Who else? Undefeated, AAC winner Cincinnati? Just one-reduction, Significant Ten winner Northwestern? An undefeated USC team out of the Pac-12? Since chaos is reigning anyway, what about a two-reduction Significant 12 winner? Iowa State (nine-two) or Oklahoma (eight-two)?

Playoff state of affairs No. six

—Alabama beats Florida
—Clemson beats Notre Dame
—Northwestern beats Ohio State.

one. Alabama (11-)
two. Clemson (10-one)
three. Notre Dame (10-one)
four. Texas A&M (eight-one), Northwestern (7-one), Cincinnati (nine-) or USC (six-)

This is a cleaner vision, and it forces the committee to make just a person tough choice. No two-reduction groups make the Playoff, and the committee could get artistic in choosing Alabama’s semifinal opponent. Any a person of people 4 groups could make that run, but the Aggies even now have that within observe.

Playoff state of affairs No. 7

—Florida beats Alabama
—Clemson beats Notre Dame
—Northwestern beats Ohio State.

one. Clemson (10-one)
two. Alabama (10-one)
three. Notre Dame (10-one)
four. Florida (nine-two), Texas A&M (eight-one), Northwestern (7-one), Cincinnati (nine-) or USC (six-)

This would be negative news for everybody outside the house the ACC and SEC. The committee falls back on the 3 greatest a person-reduction groups: Clemson, Alabama and Notre Dame ahead of debating regardless of whether to set in a person-reduction A&M or two-reduction Florida. The game titles-performed argument wins out, knocking out Northwestern and USC. Team of 5 team Cincinnati misses out also, building the Playoff the SEC-ACC Invitational. That last argument for the remaining location would be a large mess.

Playoff state of affairs No. eight

—Florida beats Alabama
—Notre Dame beats Clemson
—Northwestern beats Ohio State.

one. Notre Dame (11-)
two. Alabama (10-one)
three. Florida (nine-two), Texas A&M (eight-one), Cincinnati (nine-), Northwestern (7-one) or USC (six-)
four. Florida (nine-two), Texas A&M (eight-one), Cincinnati (nine-), Northwestern (7-one) or USC (six-)

If all 3 underdogs get on convention championship weekend, then that would possible knock out Clemson and Ohio State, even nevertheless they would be in people remaining conversations with the other groups. Is this the chaos path that will get 3 SEC groups in the School Football Playoff? Or would the committee save encounter by offering the Bearcats — or an undefeated USC team — a shot?