Undefeated After Week 9

Last night, the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season came out.  Unsurprisingly, Alabama sits at the top of the rankings.  Clemson is #2, Michigan is #3, and in a bit of a surprise, Texas A&M is #4, with undefeated Washington lurking at #5.  The selection committee's rankings are released each Tuesday evening, so I'll be taking a look at the remaining undefeated teams each Wednesday.  I know you'll be waiting each Wednesday with bated breath.

Last year at this time, there were still ten undefeated FBS teams.  This year, there are only five:  Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Washington, and Western Michigan.

If Western Michigan remains undefeated, assuming they are the highest-ranked non-Power Five team (which they are as of now), the worst the Broncos could do is go to a BCS bowl.

Looking at the remaining games, Western Michigan has the easiest path to staying undefeated, with a home game against Toledo to end the season being the only remaining game against a team .500 or better (other than the MAC championship game, assuming the Broncos make it).

Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, and Washington all have tougher remaining schedules.  While Alabama does play an FCS team (Chattanooga), the Crimson Tide have to travel to Death Valley to play #13 LSU this Saturday night and have that Iron Bowl matchup with #9 Auburn looming at the end of the regular season.  Clemson has the easiest path of these four teams, as none of its remaining opponents is ranked (although all have .500 records or better).  The same goes for Michigan, except the Wolverines have to travel to Columbus for the last game of the regular season to play the #6 Buckeyes in what might be a CFP elimination game.  Washington has a similar path, playing teams .500 or better before battling rival #25 Washington State in Pullman for the Apple Cup to end the regular season.

Given the remaining schedules, it is not inconceivable that the only unbeaten teams left are Clemson and Western Michigan.  I don't expect that the Broncos will vault up to the top 4 and make the CFP, though, even if they continue to annihilate opponents.  Their last win by fewer than 14 points was their first game of the year -- a 22-21 win over Northwestern in Evanston -- and the last time they scored fewer than 41 points was in their third game, a 34-10 thrashing of Illinois in Champaign.  Unfortunately, because they play in the MAC, the likelihood of them moving into the top 4 of the CFP rankings is rather minuscule.

Here are the top 4 teams in the CFP ranking, along with each team's best win and worst loss, where applicable:

1.  Alabama (8-0)

Best win:  #4 Texas A&M (10/22; 33-14)

Worst loss:  N/A

2.  Clemson (8-0)

Best win:  #7 Louisville (10/1; 42-36)

Worst loss:  N/A

3.  Michigan (8-0)

Best win:  #8 Wisconsin (10/1; 14-7)

Worst loss: N/A

4.  Texas A&M (7-1)

Best win:  at #9 Auburn (9/17; 29-16)

Worst loss:  at #1 Alabama (10/22; 33-14)

Here is a breakdown of the remaining undefeated teams and each team's remaining games (rankings are CFB Playoff Committee rankings):

#1 Alabama 8-0

11/5 – at #13 LSU (5-2)

11/12 – Mississippi State (3-5)

11/19 – Chattanooga (FCS) (8-1)

11/26 – #9 Auburn (6-2)

12/3 – SEC championship game (Atlanta) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  22-10 (.688)

Best win:  #4 Texas A&M (10/22; 33-14)

#2 Clemson 8-0

11/5 – Syracuse (4-4)

11/12 – Pittsburgh (5-3)

11/19 – at Wake Forest (5-3)

11/26 – South Carolina (4-4)

12/3 – ACC championship game (Orlando) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  18-14 (.563)

Best win:  #7 Louisville (10/1; 42-36)

#3 Michigan 8-0

11/5 – Maryland (5-3)

11/12 – at Iowa (5-3)

11/19 – Indiana (4-4)

11/26 – at #6 Ohio State (7-1)

12/3 – Big Ten championship game (Indianapolis) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  21-11 (.656)

Best win:  #8 Wisconsin (10/1; 14-7)

#5 Washington 8-0

11/5 – at California (4-4)

11/12 – USC (5-3)

11/19 – Arizona State (5-4)

11/25 – at #25 Washington State (6-2)

12/2 – Pac-12 championship game (Santa Clara) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  20-13 (.606)

Best win:  at #16 Utah (10/29; 31-24)

#23 Western Michigan 9-0

11/8 – at Kent State (3-6)

11/19 – Buffalo (2-6)

11/25 – Toledo (6-2)

12/2 – MAC championship game (Detroit) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  11-14 (.440)

Best win:  at Northwestern (9/3; 22-21)