For groups that are not taking part in of their convention championship video games, that is it — the ultimate likelihood to make an enduring impression on the School Soccer Playoff choice committee.
For some contenders, resembling Ole Miss, their regular-season résumé is now full, and what occurs within the fifth rating Tuesday night time must be a powerful indicator of their remaining placement on Choice Day. Others, resembling Miami, are banking on hope and assist — and most significantly, yet another win. All of it started with the Egg Bowl on Friday — a recreation that not solely saved Ole Miss within the playoff, but in addition technically within the SEC race.
That is proper, this factor is way from over, so examine again after every recreation to see how the outcomes will have an effect on the playoff because the day unfolds.
Texas 27, Texas A&M 17
Rivalry Week introduced its first shake-up of the highest 4 when No. 16 Texas beat No. 3 Texas A&M — but it surely won’t be all that jarring within the fifth rating. The Aggies in all probability will drop to the four-to-six vary behind Georgia. The Bulldogs have higher wins, together with a 35-10 drubbing of … Texas. Georgia additionally has a greater loss (to No. 10 Alabama) and has now clinched a spot within the SEC title recreation. The query is simply how far Texas A&M will fall because it has joined No. 5 Texas Tech, No. 6 Oregon and No. 7 Ole Miss within the one-loss membership. The Aggies entered the weekend with a noticeable edge over Texas Tech in each power of report (23 to 56) and power of schedule (1 to 10). It is doable the committee drops the Aggies just one spot, flipping them with Georgia, which suggests they’d nonetheless be in place to earn a first-round bye because the No. 4 seed. There might be a powerful debate, although, about whether or not the Aggies, Texas Tech or Oregon, the latter which has impressed the committee recently by rating within the prime 5 in offensive and defensive effectivity, deserves the very best seeding. The Aggies’ drawback is that they must end within the prime 4 as an at-large group as a result of they simply received knocked out of the SEC title recreation.
Although Texas has arguably one of the best win within the nation, it in all probability will not be sufficient to catapult it into the highest 10 as a three-loss group. Even with some upsets above Texas, it is unlikely the Longhorns will get greater than No. 12.
Indiana 56, Purdue 3
Indiana clinched a spot within the Massive Ten championship recreation with its win in opposition to rival Purdue, locking in a CFP bid and beefing up its probabilities at maintaining a first-round bye on Choice Day. The Hoosiers, who’ve been the committee’s No. 2 group in every of the primary 4 rankings, nonetheless have an opportunity of grabbing the No. 1 spot in Tuesday’s rating if Ohio State loses to Michigan. If Ohio State loses and Oregon wins, Indiana will face Oregon within the Massive Ten title recreation. If Michigan wins and Oregon loses, the Hoosiers will face Michigan for the convention title.
The query is whether or not IU can keep a top-four seed and a first-round bye because the Massive Ten runner-up. If Indiana misplaced the title recreation, the committee would contemplate the place its opponent was ranked and the way shut the sport was. The Hoosiers would even be in contrast with different prime one-loss groups, however taking part in a ranked opponent within the convention championship recreation — win or lose — would enhance IU’s report power by the committee’s metric.
Georgia 16, Georgia Tech 9
Georgia ought to maintain its place because the committee’s prime one-loss group after its victory in opposition to rival Georgia Tech. Georgia’s Oct. 18 win in opposition to Ole Miss, together with its triumph at Tennessee and drubbing of Texas, impressed the committee. The Bulldogs’ consistency on offense and protection has additionally performed properly with the committee. Georgia’s first-round bye will solely be in query if it finishes as a two-loss SEC runner-up.
Barring an uncommon mixture of ACC outcomes, No. 23 Georgia Tech might be out of the playoff at 9-3. The one method the Yellow Jackets can prolong their playoff hope is thru the ACC championship recreation. They entered the weekend with a 1.5% likelihood of constructing the sport, in keeping with ESPN Analytics.
Ole Miss 38, Mississippi State 19
With its win in opposition to rival Mississippi State on Friday, Ole Miss in all probability locked up a playoff spot and stays in a powerful place to host a first-round house recreation. If Alabama loses to Auburn on Saturday, Ole Miss will clinch a spot within the SEC championship recreation. Even when it would not, although, the one-loss Rebels ought to nonetheless be a CFP lock.
As for the uncertainty nonetheless looming round coach Lane Kiffin, if Ole Miss turns to an interim head coach for the playoff, the choice committee may contemplate that. CFP protocol states the group will contemplate “different related components resembling unavailability of key gamers and coaches that will have affected a group’s efficiency through the season or possible will have an effect on its postseason efficiency.” Ole Miss will not miss the playoff as a result of Kiffin left for an additional job, but it surely may get dinged a spot or two if the committee believes the group will not be the identical with out him.
Utah 31, Kansas 21
No. 13 Utah punctuated its résumé with a win in opposition to 5-7 Kansas, but it surely’s nonetheless unlikely to succeed in the playoff with out a number of upsets of groups above it — particularly after being leapfrogged by No. 12 Miami within the newest CFP rating. The Utes’ finest hope to succeed in the CFP continues to be as an at-large group.
Getting that bid is not inconceivable if a mix of two-loss groups above them lose. If Oklahoma, Alabama and Miami lose, it is going to be tough for any of them to remain within the prime 12 as three-loss groups. Utah would wish not less than two of them to lose to maneuver into the highest 10, which is the place it will must be to really be seeded within the subject. The No. 11 and No. 12 groups this 12 months might be excluded through the seeding course of to make room for the fourth- and fifth-highest ranked convention champions.
