BCS formula prediction for penultimate College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings

With the regular season come and gone, the postseason path, especially involving the College Football Playoff, has become clearer and clearer. Now, ahead of championship weekend, the BCS Formula has given us its version of how everything will fall with their Top-25.

This week’s BCS Top-25 stayed mostly the same as far as the teams amongst the ranking. However, a pair of losses in the Top-10 has painted a different picture at the top.

Here’s how the CFP’s Top-25 shook out through the lens of the BCS Formula.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Unsurprisingly, Georgia maintained their top spot after they clinched a second straight undefeated season. Georgia Tech kept it relatively close with the Bulldogs but, all in all, the two-time defending champions went on to win their 29th consecutive game.

As of today, all that now sits between the ‘Dawgs and another berth in the College Football Playoff is a date with Alabama in Atlanta for a shot at their second straight SEC Championship.

2. Michigan Wolverines

The Game was going to mean everything for the winner and likely be the end of the season for the loser. As you can see, that hailed victor was Michigan as they clinched their second consecutive undefeated season with a 30-24 win over Ohio State.

Much like Georgia, the Wolverines’ case for the College Football Playoff is all but made to the committee after their victory over the Buckeyes. A win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship is the only hurdle left for them to jump before they end up as a lock in the four-team field.

3. Washington Huskies

Washington’s last eight wins have been far closer than some might have thought after the first four weeks. Nevertheless, they’ve all ended in victory as the Huskies posted the first undefeated regular season in the Pac-12 since the conference expanded to a dozen teams.

Again, like the previous two contenders, a 13th win is all that’s necessary for Washington. A second victory over Oregon, with both coming in Top-10 matchups, would do the trick to secure their spot in the top-four in the eyes of the committee.

4. Florida State Seminoles

Florida State, albeit weakened by the loss of Jordan Travis, is the last of the four unbeatens that have a shot at the College Football Playoff. They clinched their dozenth win in clutch fashion with a 17-3 second half that gave them a 24-15 win in The Swamp over Florida.

Some may doubt the Seminoles’ legitimacy with their backup quarterback now as their starter. Even so, it’s not going to matter as, like the other trio of undefeateds ahead of them, a win in the ACC Championship would very likely put them into the field.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

As referenced earlier, The Game was going to cost one team dearly and, unfortunately for the Buckeyes, it was Ohio State. Their six-point loss in Ann Arbor dropped them from No. 2 to No. 5 for the BCS.

Now, from here, all that Ohio State can do is wait. It’s just that, with no division crown or conference crown to show at the end of this next week, it’s very difficult to create a scenario where they find themselves in the playoff this season.

6. Oregon Ducks

With the Buckeyes joining the one-loss club, Oregon is now the second-highest team that has one blemish on their record. Unlike Ohio State, though, the Ducks remain in contention with one opportunity left.

With their one defeat coming to the Huskies in Seattle, Oregon could make up for it by beating them in Las Vegas this weekend. That vengeance, along with the Pac-12 Championship as part of that, would likely be enough to get the Ducks into the playoff after they’ve hung around this spot for the last few weeks.

7. Texas Longhorns

Texas is a tricky team when it comes to their chance at the playoff. Their 50-point win over Texas Tech in their season finale gave the Longhorns an 11-1 mark as they maintained their spot at No. 7 on this list before heading into the Big 12 Championship.

With that said, there’s a chance that Texas could use some help to get in in the end. Their victory at Alabama is a big boost but, with no rematch with Oklahoma and questions about the Big 12, the Longhorns’ fate could be a fascinating one to monitor by the end of the week.

8. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama very nearly slid down the BCS Ranking and out of the playoff picture had the Iron Bowl gone the other way. Since the Tide survived, though, they remained at No. 8.

With a date with the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship up next, ‘Bama is the team that could truly make a mess out of these projections. If they were to win over Georgia, thereby securing a conference title and the best win on anyone’s resume this season, the Crimson Tide might potentially generate enough support for a massive jump into the top four.

9. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State got the benefit of the doubt from Louisville’s loss to Kentucky this weekend. Pair that with their own 42-0 shutout of Michigan State and the Nittany Lions were able to make the one-spot move from No. 10 to No. 9.

Penn State was the once again the odd man out when it came to them, Michigan, and Ohio State. Still, with another 10-2 finish, they’ll likely be featured in another top-notch bowl that’ll likely come on New Year’s Day.

10. Missouri Tigers

Missouri is a national success story out of the Southeastern Conference with how they exploded onto the scene. They went on to win 10 games, their most since 2014, in by far the best campaign for Eli Drinkwitz in CoMo.

As one of the best teams out of the SEC not named Georgia or Alabama, Mizzou should find themselves with a quality bowl berth after proving their worth all season long.

11. Ole Miss Rebels
12. Oklahoma Sooners
13. LSU Tigers
14. Louisville Cardinals
15. Arizona Wildcats
16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
17. Iowa Hawkeyes
18. Tulane Green Wave
19. Liberty Flames
20. Oklahoma State Cowboys
21. Oregon State Beavers
22. James Madison Dukes
23. NC State Wolfpack
24. Toledo Rockets
25. Tennessee Volunteers

The final selection for the four-team field could end up very clean or, depending on the amount of chaos, very messy. With that in play, this is how the BCS has it all looking at the moment before conference championships could really shake it all up.