The regular season finale is here
The Top five remain in place but there will definitely be some changes after this weeks big “semifinal” game between Ohio State and Indiana. Who can pull out a big win and set themselves up for a big playoff run.
#1 Oregon Ducks (Previously #1 — Bye)
Oregon got to watch Ohio State demolish Indiana and set up a probable rematch next weekend in Indianapolis for the #1 overall CFP seed. They still need to get past a now bowl eligible Washington team this Saturday night, but I don’t expect it will be too close of a game.
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously #3 — Win 38-15 vs Indiana)
The Buckeyes beat up on the Hoosiers like it was a normal year and leapfrog back into the #2 spot. They still have The Game this week, but it being in Columbus will help the distraction factor as the Buckeyes won’t look past Michigan to get ready for an Oregon rematch.
#3 Indiana Hoosiers (Previous #2 Lose 35-15 at Ohio State)
Indiana looked like a paper tiger for the first time all season—but lucky for them the rest of the SEC did this week as well and the Hoosiers are still likely a safe playoff team. They probably were destined for the #4 slot here this week but Penn State nearly losing to the Gophers keeps them below Indiana. The Old Oaken Bucket is up for grabs this weekend in Bloomington as Purdue comes to town, and I have a gut feeling Indiana is gonna run this score up to make sure the committee doesn’t forget about them
#4 Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously #4 — Win 26-25 at Minnesota)
The Nittany Lions escape due to a few clutch plays and a few idiotic decisions by the Gophers coaching staff. Penn State still probably is playoff bound with their only loss coming to the now scorching hot Buckeyes. They lose out the regular season with what should be a laugher at home against Maryland and then will await the committee’s decision.
#5 Iowa Hawkeyes (Previously #5 — Win 29-13 at Maryland)
Iowa is on QB #3 but still had enough juice to knock off a reeling Maryland squad. Nebraska comes to town for a Black Friday game that admittedly lost a bit of luster after the Huskers got bowl eligible last weekend.
#6 #Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously #6 Win 38-31 at Rutgers)
Illinois fought off a tough Rutgers squad to lock up a Florida bowl game barring an epic upset loss to Northwestern on Saturday. It’s been a nice season for the Illini and finishing it 9-3 is really impressive.
#7 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previously #8 Loss 26-25 to Penn State)
Minnesota bumps up a spot this week with their near upset of the Nittany Lions—which for a few strange coaching decisions could have definitely happened. This team NEEDS a win at Wisconsin on Friday badly. Bring home the Axe please so we can see PJ covered in Mayo, and not end up back in Detroit.
#8 Michigan Wolverines (Previously #11 — Win 50-6 vs Northwestern)
Yes, I know it’s Northwestern but Michigan for the first time in a very long time looked like they had last year’s mojo back. Can they go into Columbus this week and give the Buckeyes a scare? Probably not, but you never know.
#9 Washington Huskies (Previously #9 — BYE)
Washington stays at nine after a bye week and a few others flip/flop around them. They got to 6 wins which is the most important thing, because #7 most likely is not coming this week at Oregon.
#10 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Previously #10 Lose 38-31 vs Illinois)
Rutgers got to six wins, and tried really hard to pull off an upset of the Illini last week but just got outgunned. They now finish with a Michigan State team desperate to get to six wins in what should actually be a very entertaining game on Saturday in East Lansing. A win and Rutgers might get to stay out east and play an ACC team. A loss, and it could be Arizona and a Big 12 team for their bowl game.
#11 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previously #13 Win 44-25 vs Wisconsin)
Nebraska finally did it. They are going to a bowl for the first time since 2016 after crushing Wisconsin. They game at Iowa this week now is much less important, but you know they want to win it anyways.
#12 Wisconsin Badgers (Previously #8 Lose 44-25 at Nebraska)
Did the Badgers blow all they had left in three quarters against Oregon? It sure looked that way last week when they got destroyed by Nebraska with bowl eligibility on the line. That’s four losses in a row now for Wisconsin. Can they get bowl eligible and keep the Axe this Friday against the Gophers? I sure hope not.
#13 USC Trojans (Previously #14 Win 19-13 at UCLA)
USC has now won back to back games to get to six wins and bowl eligibility—and they did it by knocking out their rivals from bowl contention on the road—-take note Minnesota. USC finishes with Notre Dame at the Coliseum this week and could take out the Irish from the playoff with a huge upset,
#14 Michigan State Spartans (Previously #15 Win 24-17 vs Purdue)
Michigan State picks up a spot by barely beating Purdue as the only logical team that could still make a bowl (sorry Northwestern). They host Rutgers for a change to probably play a bowl game in Detroit….or they can lose and start their offseason near Detroit.
#15 UCLA Bruins (Previously #12 Lose 19-13 vs USC)
UCLA started crappy, clawed their way back in the middle, but just ran out of gas as their loss to USC eliminated them from bowl contention. They finish by hosting Fresno State in a game this week that I’m sure nobody cares about, the players, the coaches, the fans, etc.
#16 Northwestern Wildcats (Previously #16 Lose 50-6 at Michigan)
Northwestern somehow only lost by 24 to Ohio State but lost by 44 to Michigan? Sure. The Wildcats still could be bowl eligible if they can upset Illinois this week, but I just don’t see that happening.
#17 Maryland Terrapins (Previously #17 Lose 29-13 vs Iowa)
Maryland is now officially eliminated from bowl contention with the loss at home to the Hawkeyes. They finish at Penn State. Ooof.
#18 Purdue Boilermakers (Previous #18 Lose 24-17 at Michigan State)
The season is almost over. 60 more minutes getting annihilated by a pissed off Indiana team who is looking to make one final statement to the CFP committee. Just breathe through this one…it’s gonna hurt, but then it will all be over.