This past Saturday night #7 Oklahoma and #10 Baylor each walked off the gridiron with a victory. This will no doubt have an impact on which four teams make the College Football Playoff and which, if any, Big XII team represents the conference in the playoff.
I can definitely say that TCU is now eliminated from having any chance of making the playoffs. With two losses on their record, there are just too many teams in front of them with better game records. Not all hope is lost for fans of the Horned Frogs. They are still strong candidates for a big bowl game that will have them pinned up against another team that just missed the playoff as well.
As for Oklahoma State and their loss, I cannot positively say that they are completely ruled out of the playoffs, but I would be extremely surprised if they did make it. What I have seen over the course of my lifetime and even this year is that if you are going to lose and make it to the National Championship or the College Football Playoffs you lose early. Even a win in their only remaining game, the Bedlam rivalry, probably will not be enough to make a case of why they belong in the playoffs. So to all of the OSU fans out there, keep your heads up because win or lose next week there is still a great chance to be in a big bowl game.
With wins this past weekend, Baylor and Oklahoma have now made a strong case that their losses earlier this season were flukes and that they are deserving of a spot in the top four.
I think Baylor’s loss against Oklahoma two weeks ago ended their playoff chances, however, as we have seen, that OU team is very good, and a win over #6 ranked OK State gives them a quality win that could slingshot them over OU. Even with the impressive win, I think there are too many better teams in front of Baylor with more impressive résumés that will get a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
Finally, Oklahoma University may be the Big XII’s last hope for the playoff. OU beat a talented Baylor squad that are making a playoff push themselves, along with a good team in TCU, but as the weeks go on it seems more like TCU is only good, not great, making Oklahoma’s win less impressive than it would have been earlier this year. Fortunately, their last game of the season is against a high ranking, one loss OK State team. A victory over the Cowboys could be just enough to make it into the top four and get tickets punched to the Cotton Bowl or Orange Bowl for the semifinals.
There are many possibilities and it may be best to save any predictions until after next week, but my bet is the Big XII will be on the outside looking in once again. Unfortunately, the teams that may have had a chance just lost at the wrong time or just did not have a strong enough schedule in the eyes of the Playoff Selection Committee. Whatever the case, we will all find out soon enough. It is completely in the hands of Oklahoma, Baylor and Oklahoma State to keep their hopes alive.
