foxnews
With the college football regular season entering its final weeks, the possibility of a three-loss team qualifying for the 12-team College Football Playoff is gaining traction. The expanded format, which will grow to 24 teams next year, makes such a scenario more likely, but a three-loss at-large bid in the current 12-team era would be unprecedented.
Several teams with three losses are clustered in the middle of the CFP rankings, and five in particular—Oregon, South Carolina, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and LSU—have a legitimate shot at making the field. While more teams could join this group, these five appear to be the most viable candidates.
Missouri was considered but left out due to a challenging upcoming stretch against Georgia and Kentucky, and their best win came against a struggling Florida team. Ole Miss and LSU present intriguing cases. The Rebels boast a top quarterback in Trinidad Chambliss and a strong running back in Kewan Lacy, along with quality wins over LSU and Missouri. LSU, however, lost to Ole Miss head-to-head and lacks a marquee win outside of a season-opening rout of Clemson. The Tigers' offense remains dangerous under the play-calling of Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr., and they have one of the most expensive rosters in the country. Both teams, though, are coming off recent blowout losses to superior conference foes: LSU was dominated in the fourth quarter by Alabama, and Ole Miss was handled by Georgia, the nation's top team, though the Rebels also suffered a loss to Florida in which they were outclassed in the second half.
Ohio State and South Carolina are dealing with high-profile injuries. The Buckeyes lost quarterback Julian Sayin for the remainder of the regular season and possibly longer, and they haven't looked the same, dropping their third loss at home to Oregon last Saturday. South Carolina, on the other hand, is one of the hottest teams in the country, riding a four-game winning streak and boasting an impressive win over Tennessee. However, the loss of dynamic quarterback Lanorris Sellers and big-play receiver Nyck Harbor complicates their outlook, as the long-term status of both stars is uncertain.
That leaves Oregon, which appears to be the most dangerous three-loss team. The Ducks looked shaky early but have transformed since firing their offensive coordinator in late October. Under Dan Lanning, they scored 41 points against a stout Ohio State defense last weekend and seem to be peaking at the right time with Dylan Raiola at quarterback. They also have a more favorable remaining schedule (Michigan, at Michigan State, and Washington) and own impressive wins over Ohio State and Boise State, the likely Group of 6 playoff representative. Despite losing star quarterback Dante Moore, Oregon has weathered the storm and remains a talented team that many picked to win it all in August.
Key Analysis
Oregon's resurgence makes them a formidable threat if they secure a playoff berth. Their high-powered offense, ignited by the coordinator change, could cause problems for any opponent. While a three-loss team making the field is likely, Oregon's potential to make a deep run should not be underestimated.
Originally reported by foxnews.