Is Pac-12 already out of the playoff race? We rank every convention’s possibilities

The Pac-12 has already seen a few of its high Faculty Soccer Playoff contenders, outdoors of Utah, lose a recreation. Oregon in Week 1, Washington final week and USC this weekend.

Is the convention at risk of lacking the Faculty Soccer Playoff for a 3rd straight season?

It is truthful to say the league is enjoying from behind, as a result of the highest contenders within the different Energy 5 conferences have additionally been extra spectacular. When it comes right down to Choice Day, what we have already seen will consider, because the committee will consider the Pac-12 champion in opposition to the others and evaluate nonconference wins.

That is why even undefeated Utah might be in bother, nearly as good because the Utes have appeared.

It is why Michigan State’s loss in opposition to Arizona State might influence the energy of schedule for Ohio State and Michigan. It is why Clemson has virtually no margin for error, and Florida’s victory over Kentucky really helps the SEC East.

So how do all of them stack up by Week Three?

1. SEC

High contenders: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn
Work to do: Texas A&M

Alabama has had a lot to have fun up to now this season and because it appears to be like for yet one more spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Dannie Partitions/Icon Sportswire

As a lot as Clemson seems to be a lock, the SEC claims the highest spot right here as a result of it has much more depth — sufficient that the potential of two SEC groups ending inside the high 4 is reputable. Alabama is not flawless, however it received simply at South Carolina and can in all probability proceed to cruise as a result of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his group of proficient receivers are so troublesome to defend.

Week four showcases two video games with main playoff implications, as Georgia hosts Notre Dame and Auburn travels to Texas A&M. After cruising to a Three-Zero begin, Georgia will face its first ranked opponent, and presumably its just one till November. Although a loss in opposition to the Irish will not eradicate the Bulldogs, it places much more stress on them to beat SEC West opponents Auburn and Texas A&M later within the season.

The choice committee is not going to penalize the Aggies for a street loss in opposition to Clemson if it is their solely loss, however Texas A&M has but to truly play like a top-four crew. Barring chaos within the West, Texas A&M in all probability would fall out of the playoff race with a loss on Saturday. Auburn, in the meantime, gained some credibility with its Week 1 win in opposition to Oregon. Although the Tigers nonetheless have some margin for error, the schedule is once more unforgiving. Each the Aggies and Tigers nonetheless should play LSU, which entered the playoff dialog after its Week 2 win at Texas.

2 Associated

2. ACC

High contender: Clemson
It’s, undoubtedly, Clemson and everyone else. Whereas this places the Tigers squarely in place to lock up a top-four spot, the remainder of the league’s evident weaknesses additionally places stress on Clemson to keep away from an upset in any respect prices.

It will all rely on how the opposite Energy 5 convention champions fared; however, at this fee, a one-loss Clemson may not beat a one-loss Pac-12 champ for a semifinal spot. Think about this: six of Clemson’s Energy 5 opponents (excluding the Tigers’ personal opponent, Syracuse) misplaced on Saturday, together with Georgia Tech to The Citadel and Boston Faculty to Kansas. There’s additionally the problem of the ACC championship recreation, the place it is potential Clemson might face an unranked opponent.

None of this may matter, although, if the Tigers keep undefeated. Once more.

Three. Huge Ten

High contender: Ohio State
Work to do: Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin

This convention is hard. Although the league appears to be like deep proper now, it might be in bother as a result of Wisconsin has to play Michigan and Ohio State in crossover video games. Can the Badgers emerge as a contender, or will they only play spoiler?

It is a delicate stability staying ranked by the choice committee after they all play each other, however the cross-division video games make it much more troublesome. We’ll study much more Saturday when the Badgers host Michigan. Each groups have had every week off to arrange, however the Wolverines wanted it extra after a double-overtime win in opposition to Military on Sept. 7. Michigan has struggled to search out its offensive id below first-year coordinator Josh Gattis, however it’s nonetheless early. A win in Madison might rapidly change that notion.

General, nobody within the Huge Ten has appeared as proficient and constantly dominant as Ohio State. The Buckeyes have made a seamless transition from City Meyer to Ryan Day, and switch quarterback Justin Fields is already within the Heisman dialog. With Michigan State at risk of falling out of the High 25, although, the Buckeyes may not face a ranked opponent till Oct. 26 in opposition to … that is proper, Wisconsin.

four. Huge 12

High contender: Oklahoma
Work to do: Texas

The Huge 12 might have one of many extra entertaining convention races this season, as six groups are off to an ideal begin with league play has but to start. Oklahoma once more appears to be like just like the Huge 12’s greatest playoff hope, however its greatest victories have been in opposition to Houston and UCLA. There’s nonetheless lots to show in opposition to higher competitors, however Texas may be the one ranked opponent the Sooners face all season. Do not eradicate Texas simply because it misplaced in opposition to LSU, particularly for the reason that Tigers appear to be a critical challenger to Alabama within the SEC West. All it takes is one upset of Oklahoma and a Huge 12 title, and the Longhorns are, effectively, again.

5. Pac-12

High contender: Utah
Work to do: Oregon, Washington, Washington State

On Saturday, No. 24 USC misplaced on the street in additional time in opposition to a BYU crew that appeared harder and extra decided. Unranked Stanford went all the way in which to Florida to get trounced by UCF. USC is now more likely to be part of Stanford within the unranked class. Utah and Washington State are nonetheless ranked and undefeated, however it seems the Pac-12 is once more lacking a really nice crew regardless of having some superb ones.

This doesn’t imply the Pac-12 is out of the playoff hunt, however energy of schedule might be an issue. Michigan nonetheless has Notre Dame. Clemson beat Texas A&M. LSU had Texas. The Pac-12 missed that résumé stunner when Oregon misplaced to Auburn.

Utah has BYU, Northern Illinois and Idaho State. Oregon now has Nevada and Montana. Neither Washington State nor Washington play a Energy 5 nonconference opponent. The league, collectively, must be ok to beat that.