The second half of the college football season is one big playoff tournament

For the first time in years I’m paying close attention to the macro college picture but that’s only partially due to Texas’ chances of making a credible playoff run.

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The fact there’s no clear favorite while numerous contenders are set to face each other has the rest of this season setting up more like the actual playoffs than a collection of individual playoff runs. With no dominant team, the playoffs expanded a year earlier than expected.

 The “playoffs” got off to an entertaining start in the last two weeks. Oklahoma defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl, but that ‘series’ could come down to a second game in December.

This past weekend, Washington defeated Oregon in a game that had numerous similarities to the wild Texas-OU game the week prior. Washington won a classic that will be remembered for a long time in the Pacific Northwest. 

The playoffs continue this weekend with undefeated Penn State traveling to Columbus to play undefeated Ohio State. I’m dubious James Franklin can get the best of Ryan Day in the ‘Shoe but this is the best and most talented Nittany Lions team in years.

Depending on your Texas fan personality, you’re either paying attention to the national landscape or waiting for the rug to be pulled from under you. A good percentage of you are a little of column A, a little of column B. Same here.

If you care about the national landscape, here’s a look at teams within ESPN’s playoff predictor and their road to the playoffs.

Oklahoma – 69%

“Nice.” – OU fans.

The Sooners have the easiest path to the playoffs of any team remaining, though they could enter a rematch against Texas in the Big 12 Championship as the underdog.

Ohio State – 54%

This percentage might seem a bit high, but mainly because Ohio State still has to face Michigan in Ann Arbor to finish the season. The Buckeyes have dropped the last two against the Wolverines.

Of course, the Notre Dame win on the road could allow the Buckeyes to drop a game, miss the conference championship, and still make the playoffs. 

FSU – 44%

The ‘Noles have survived scares against Clemson and Boston College. Are they the chosen team similar to TCU last year?

Mike Norvell’s squad should face another difficult challenge with Mike Elko’s upstart Duke Blue Devils heading to Tallahassee this weekend. FSU’s path is pretty navigable after this week.

FSU’s greatest challenge could be North Carolina, assuming both teams make the ACC Championship Game. 

Washington – 40%

The Huskies will have a three game stretch consisting of at USC, Utah, at Oregon State.

Given their offense, they’re going to score on anyone. But their defense, while well coached, doesn’t quite have the same level of talent as the offense.

Similar to Texas-OU having the chance for a rematch, U-Dub and Oregon could see each other again in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Penn State – 35%

In addition to playing Ohio State this weekend, Penn State draws Michigan on November 11th.

Again, two teams making the playoffs out of the Big Ten is feasible. 

Michigan – 32%

The Wolverines have played an incredibly easy schedule thus far and aside games against Penn State and Ohio State it won’t get much tougher. 

Georgia – 30%

The two-time defending national champs have taken a noticeable step back on offense with offseason changes at quarterback and offensive coordinator, but the greater concern could be the loss of offensive fulcrum Brock Bowers.

The tight end and Heisman candidate is out for an undetermined amount of time with an ankle sprain that required surgery right as the Bulldogs enter a stretch of Florida, Missouri, Ole Miss, and at Tennessee. Normally Georgia would dispatch that schedule, but this isn’t the same team we’ve seen the last few seasons.

If Georgia makes the SEC Championship they could face Alabama or potentially see a rematch with Ole Miss.

Texas – 27%

The Longhorns should be itching to get back on the field after having the sting of a loss to deal with for two weeks.

The schedule sets up well to re-establish momentum with Houston, BYU, and Kansas State in successive weeks. Each game should get progressively tougher while only the UH game is on the road. After two weeks at home, the ‘Horns are on the road at TCU and Iowa State before finishing up at home against Texas Tech.

The OU loss removed Texas’ margin for error for making the playoffs. While this is a fairly difficult back-half of the schedule, Texas will be the clear favorite in each game.

As far as winning the conference Texas is in control of its own destiny. If Texas wins out it’s hard to see one loss keeping it out of the playoffs.

Alabama – 26%

Bama’s next three games are key. They go Tennessee, LSU, and at Kentucky. Normally the Crimson Tide would handle these flawed teams with little fanfare but Alabama’s offense has been inconsistent and a loss is possible.

Could both Alabama and Georgia miss the playoffs? If ever there’s a year that could happen it’s this one.

Oregon – 19%

Oregon is in a similar situation to Texas after losing to its rival in an entertaining classic. Also similarly, they still have a whole lot to play for with the chance of a rematch against Washington. Before then there’s plenty of meat left on the bone with Utah on the road and (pretender) USC and Oregon State at home.

North Carolina – 10%

Led by the talented Drake Maye at quarterback, the Tar Heels have tough games against Duke and at Clemson in back to back weekends in November. They also finish with rival NC State. If UNC gets through those games unscathed a huge game with playoff implications for both teams against FSU awaits in the ACC championship. 

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Years ago it was said the beauty of college football was that it was a season-long single-elimination tournament. Given the way this year is setting up with so many contenders yet to play each other, that certainly appears to be true. 

May the best teams survive and advance.