College Football: Undefeated After Week 12

And then there were three.  Two weeks ago, we had seven undefeated teams remaining in college football's FBS division, and since then, four have been beaten.  This weekend's victims were #8 Minnesota, who lost 23-19 to #20 Iowa in Iowa City, as the Hawkeyes took home the coveted Floyd of Rosedale -- still my favorite hog-based college football trophy.  Elsewhere, #13 Baylor was finally exposed, losing a heartbreaking 34-31 clash at home to #10 Oklahoma, after leading 28-3 early in the second quarter and 31-10 at halftime.

My Hoosiers also had some heartbreak against #9 Penn State, as two special teams gaffes led to 14 Nittany Lions points and a hard-fought 34-27 loss, knocking the Hoosiers out of the Top 25.  It was fun while it lasted.  Up next is #13 Michigan, who IU has not beaten since 1987, but has played tough the last several meetings:
-2018:  IU lost 31-20 in Ann Arbor after being up at halftime and within 8 until a few minutes left in the game.
-2017:  IU lost 27-20 in OT in Bloomington, scoring 10 points in the final three and a half minutes in regulation to force OT.
-2016:  IU lost 20-10 in Ann Arbor (in the snow), after being up 10-6 late in the third quarter.
-2015:  IU lost 48-41 in double OT in Bloomington, with the Wolverines tying the game as time expired in regulation and the Hoosiers' Mitchell Paige bobbling a catch that would have sent the game into a third OT. 

It's time to get over the hump.

Anyway, in the latest release of the College Football Playoff rankings, the top four did not change, which comes as no surprise, as the top three teams crushed their opponents, all scoring 50+ points.  #1 LSU beat Ole Miss in Oxford, 58-37.  #2 Ohio State beat Rutgers 56-21, with the Buckeyes' defense allowing the most points in a game since their week 1 45-21 win over FAU.  #3 Clemson tamped down their toughest remaining opponent, Wake Forest, 52-3, extending their streak of scoring 50+ points to four games.  Finally, #4 Georgia made its CFP case stronger with a big 21-14 win at #12 Auburn, clinching the SEC East in the process.

Of the remaining three undefeated teams -- #1 LSU, #2 OSU, and #3 Clemson -- Clemson has, by far, the easiest road to remaining undefeated.  Assuming the Tigers can get past rivals South Carolina a week from Saturday, they will play yet another unranked team in the ACC Championship game -- Virginia (7-3, 5-2), Pitt (7-3, 4-2), Virginia Tech (7-3, 4-2), or Miami (6-4, 4-3).  LSU's path is considerably harder.  After a cupcake game against Arkansas in the Battle for the Golden Boot this Saturday, the Bayou Bengals travel to College Station for a game against Texas A&M (currently 7-3).  Assuming they win at least one of those two games, they will clinch the SEC West and face #4 Georgia in the SEC Championship game.  Finally, #2 Ohio State has the hardest row to sow to remain undefeated, and I think if they can come out of the next three games -- #8 Penn State (9-1), at #13 Michigan (8-2), and the Big Ten Championship game against #10 Minnesota (9-1), #12 Wisconsin (8-2), or #17 Iowa (7-3) -- without a loss, they deserve to be #1.

Here are the top 4 teams in the CFP ranking, along with each team's best win and worst loss, where applicable:
1.  LSU (10-0)
Best win:  at #5 Alabama (11/9; 46-41)
Worst loss:  N/A
2.  Ohio State (10-0)
Best win:  #12 Wisconsin (10/26; 38-7)
Worst loss:  N/A
3.  Clemson (11-0)
Best win:  Wake Forest (11/16; 52-3)
Worst loss: N/A
4.  Georgia (9-1)
Best win:  #11 Florida (11/2; 24-17)
Worst loss:  South Carolina (10/12; 20-17)

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

#1 LSU (10-0)
11/23 - Arkansas (2-8)
11/30 - at Texas A&M (7-3)
12/7 – SEC championship game (Atlanta) - #4 Georgia (9-1)
Remaining opponents' combined record:  18-11 (.621)
Best win:  at #5 Alabama (11/9; 46-41)

#2 Ohio State (10-0)
11/23 - #8 Penn State (9-1)
11/30 – at #13 Michigan (8-2)
12/7 – Big Ten championship game (Indianapolis) - TBD
Remaining opponents' combined record:  15-3 (.850)
Best win:  #12 Wisconsin (10/26; 38-7)

#3 Clemson (11-0)
11/30 – at South Carolina (4-7)
12/7 – ACC championship game (Charlotte) - TBD
Remaining opponents' combined record:  4-7 (.364)
Best win:  Wake Forest (11/16; 52-3)