College Football Playoff, New Year’s Six bowl projections: Week 11

The signal-stealing allegation story has sucked much of the oxygen out of any discussion involving Michigan, but this is a huge week for the Wolverines on the field no matter what happens off it. Michigan’s visit to Penn State will set up the stakes for the final weeks of Big Ten play. A Michigan win opens the possibility of the league getting two teams into the College Football Playoff. A Penn State win probably puts the league in position to get just one team into the CFP, but it makes it a three-team race instead of a two-team one.

Meanwhile, Washington starts a two-week gauntlet (Utah and Oregon State) and Oregon hosts USC. These games will shape the Pac-12 title race. By surviving Kansas State, Texas kept itself alive for a CFP berth. Thanks to Oklahoma’s loss to Oklahoma State, the Longhorns now once again have control of their chase for the Big 12 title.

The race for the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion nearly got thrown for a loop Saturday. Air Force got stunned by Army, and Tulane — the team the CFP selection committee had ranked highest among the G5 teams — barely escaped East Carolina. But the Green Wave did win. And if they keep winning, they probably will get that spot because undefeated James Madison isn’t eligible to play in a bowl game. Undefeated Liberty will want a say in this, but the committee doesn’t seem to respect the Flames’ schedule. Liberty might need a second Tulane (the first was to Ole Miss) loss to get consideration.

The next three weeks will be fascinating.

College Football Playoff

Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Florida State

New Years Six Bowls

Orange Bowl: Louisville vs Alabama
Peach Bowl: Oregon vs. Ole Miss
Fiesta Bowl: Washington vs. Tulane
Cotton Bowl: Texas vs. Penn State