Midseason Mayhem: College Football Playoff Contenders Emerge
As the college football season reaches its midpoint, conversations about the College Football Playoff are heating up. With two-loss teams likely to be included in the 12-team field, several teams are positioning themselves for a spot in the conference title game and the CFP.
LSU: The Quiet Contender
After a tough loss to USC in the season opener, LSU has won every game since, showcasing a working identity and a semblance of consistency. The Tigers have found ways to win, despite not having a reliable running game, and their shaky defense has forced seven turnovers in the past four games. With quarterback Garrett Nussmeier leading one of the nation’s top passing attacks, LSU is undefeated in conference play and avoids a matchup with Georgia this season.
Alabama: A Team in Turmoil
The two-loss Crimson Tide has struggled with turnovers, penalties, and sacks on quarterback Jalen Milroe. Despite being a national title contender, Alabama’s ugly losses and wins have fallen short of the committee’s standards. With 33 teams still having a 14% chance of finishing with two or fewer losses, the Tide must regroup and refocus to remain a CFP contender.
Michigan’s Quarterback Conundrum
The Wolverines have struggled with quarterback play, with Jack Tuttle becoming the third starting quarterback in seven games. Despite decent numbers, Tuttle’s accuracy and decision-making have been questionable, and Michigan’s offense has failed to score 10 points or more for the first time in a decade. With a group that carries significant questions, Michigan must reevaluate its quarterback situation to remain a CFP contender.
The SEC Logjam
For the first time since 2007, the SEC will enter November without an unbeaten team. Georgia’s win over Texas has created a logjam at the top, with six teams having 6-1 overall records and three more with 5-2 records. With several matchups between these teams looming, the SEC is poised for a wild finish, leaving open the possibility that a two-loss SEC team could be left out of the CFP.
Duke’s Historic Victory
The Blue Devils gained their first win against Florida State since the Seminoles joined the ACC in 1992. With a stingy defense and aggressive playcalling, Duke has become a formidable opponent, leading the nation in tackles for loss and ranking seventh in sacks.
Big Reds in a Bad Way
Oklahoma and Nebraska have reached new lows, with the Sooners suffering a 35-9 loss to South Carolina and the Cornhuskers losing 56-7 to Indiana. Both teams are in danger of missing out on a bowl game, with Oklahoma’s offense in disarray and Nebraska struggling to find consistency.
Army-Navy Offenses Shine
The service academy rivals have turned in two of the top six scoring performances among AP Top 25 offenses in Week 8
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