CFP Week 10: Who’s Alive, Who’s Eliminated

**College Football Playoff Picture Sharpening: Undefeated Five Control Destiny, One-Loss Teams Eye Upset Avenues**

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

As Week 10 of the college football season concludes, the path to the College Football Playoff (CFP) is becoming remarkably clear, with a select group of teams now holding their championship aspirations firmly in their own hands. The stakes for the final weeks of the regular season, culminating in the crucial Conference Championship weekend, have never been higher.

Five undefeated powerhouses – Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, and Washington – currently stand as the strongest contenders. Each of these teams controls its own destiny: win out, including their respective conference championship games, and a spot in the four-team playoff is all but guaranteed. Should any of them finish with a perfect 13-0 record and a conference title, their inclusion in the final four seems inevitable, setting up a thrilling sprint to the finish line in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Pac-12. Michigan and Ohio State, in particular, still have their colossal rivalry game looming, a de facto playoff eliminator that will ensure only one can remain unbeaten heading into the Big Ten Championship.

For the one-loss teams, the road is more convoluted but still very much alive. Texas, sitting at 9-1, needs to win its remaining games and secure the Big 12 Championship. Even with a 12-1 record, the Longhorns may still require some assistance from upsets in other conferences, particularly among the undefeated Power Five squads.

Oregon, also 9-1, possesses a more direct route. A dominant run through their remaining schedule, including a potential Pac-12 Championship victory – likely a rematch against Washington – would put them in an exceptionally strong position. Their earlier head-to-head victory over Texas could serve as a vital tiebreaker in the committee’s deliberations if both teams end up with similar records.

Alabama, with a 9-1 record, represents perhaps the most formidable one-loss contender. If the Crimson Tide can win out, including what would likely be an monumental upset victory over an undefeated Georgia in the SEC Championship, they would present a compelling case to the CFP Selection Committee. Their strength of schedule and the perceived dominance of the SEC would be significant factors.

Louisville, also 9-1, is in the conversation but faces a tougher climb. Should they win the ACC Championship, they would still likely need multiple upsets among other top-tier teams to secure a playoff berth. Their strength of schedule, while respectable, might not carry the same weight as an SEC or Big Ten champion.

The playoff dreams for several teams, however, have all but evaporated. Teams like Penn State (8-2), Ole Miss (8-2), and Missouri (8-2), while technically still ‘alive,’ face an incredibly narrow and improbable path. Penn State, for instance, would need Michigan and Ohio State to stumble dramatically just to reach the Big Ten Championship, let alone win it. Ole Miss and Missouri face even steeper odds, needing multiple losses from Alabama and Georgia to even contend for the SEC title game, a prerequisite for any realistic CFP shot. These teams would need a cascade of highly unlikely scenarios to unfold in their favor.

Conversely, a significant portion of the college football landscape is officially out of contention for the national championship. High-profile programs such as LSU, USC, Notre Dame, Utah, Oklahoma, and Kansas State have accumulated too many losses or lack a realistic path to a Power Five conference championship, effectively ending their CFP aspirations for the season. Generally, teams with two or more losses from a Power Five conference, and virtually any team outside the Power Five, are considered eliminated at this stage.

As the regular season winds down, every game becomes a playoff game for these top contenders. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee will unveil its final rankings on Sunday, December 3rd, setting the stage for the New Year’s Day semifinals. Until then, fans can anticipate an exhilarating and potentially unpredictable final stretch of college football action.