5 Impactful Regular-Season Games Remaining For The College Football Playoff
By Chris Emma--
(CBS) Where did this college football season go? Just three weekends of games remain before the conference championships commence and the College Football Playoff participants are chosen thereafter. Yet, it seems like just yesterday that it was just beginning.
Those final three weeks bring chances for movement and changes in the College Football Playoff rankings. There's still plenty to be decided.
While upsets can always happen, there are several key games left to decide which teams reach that round of four for the playoff. Let's look at the most impactful regular-season games left.
Note: The following doesn't reflect conference championship scenarios.
No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 6 Baylor, Saturday
Despite a brutal loss to rival Texas, Oklahoma still boasts a shot at the playoff, thanks to an impressive season resume. The Sooners can strengthen their chances this Saturday when they travel to Waco for a meeting with Baylor. For the Bears, this contest provides a chance to bolster their strength of schedule deficiency.
No. 2 Alabama at No. 17 Mississippi State, Saturday
The Crimson Tide face a daunting test when they take on Dak Prescott and the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road. Alabama can strengthen its case as the best one-loss team in the country or could drop out of the playoff with an upset from the upstart Bulldogs. If the Tide falls out, chaos could ensue in the standings.
No. 6 Baylor at No. 8 Oklahoma State, Nov. 21
The wild Big 12 features another opportunity to move up the standings, with Bayor traveling to Stillwater to take on the unbeaten Oklahoma State Cowboys, who have flown under the radar this season. While the conference still lacks a championship game, these final weeks of the season could either give us a true champion or leave teams out like it did with Baylor and TCU a year ago.
No. 3 Ohio State at No. 14 Michigan, Nov. 28
For the first time in a long time, the heated rivalry between the Buckeyes and Wolverines has excitement and oh so much at stake. Michigan has gone 7-2 in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Jim Harbaugh's first season, and it can put a stamp on this season by knocking Ohio State out of the playoff. The Buckeyes face another tough game before this, too, when they host the Michigan State Spartans in Columbus.
No. 4 Notre Dame at No. 7 Stanford, Nov. 28
This could essentially be a play-in game for the playoff in the final week of the season, with Notre Dame packing up for the coast and taking on Stanford. The Fighting Irish have overcome injuries and a tough schedule this season, coming a two-point conversion away from knocking off top-ranked Clemson on the road. The Cardinal dropped the season opener at Northwestern, but Stanford has proved to be a better team since. This one will could be a thriller.