Ellington

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When the first College Football Playoff rankings are released on Nov. 1, the University of Alabama is going to be the top team. The Crimson Tide have rarely been challenged this season, as they have steamrolled most of their foes.

Alabama is just one of 12 teams that is still alive for the playoffs. These 12 teams from the major conferences are either undefeated or have just one loss as the season moves into the final month.

Joining Alabama as the only undefeated teams are the University of Clemson, Baylor University, West Virginia University, University of Michigan, University of Nebraska and the University of Washington.

Boise State University and Western Michigan University are also undefeated but face a nearly impossible hill to climb to get into the playoff. Both are in contention for a New Year’s Six bowl, along with one-loss teams the United States Naval Academy, San Diego State University and Troy University.

A second tier of teams are the one-loss teams from the major conferences, including the University of Louisville, Ohio State University, University of Utah, Texas A&M University and the University of Florida.

There isn’t a team left alive in the playoff field that doesn’t have some obstacles in its way. Beginning with the SEC, here are the chances of the ones still left.

Alabama must get past Louisiana State University, Auburn University and the winner of the SEC East gets the Tide in the SEC Championship Game. While there are some roadblocks, Alabama has a good chance of finishing undefeated.

Texas A&M finishes the season with tough games against the University of Mississippi, LSU and Alabama. If the Aggies can run the rest of the table, and other conferences have mayhem, they have a chance to get in the playoff anyway.

Florida would be the biggest longshot out of the three SEC teams. The Gators have the University of Georgia, LSU, Florida State University and whoever wins the SEC West. This team will more than likely slip again along the way.

Washington is the last unbeaten team in the Pac-12 and still has plenty of hurdles. The Huskies face Utah this weekend, and then the University of Southern California, Washington State University and the conference title game. This team will be playoff worthy if it can get past this slate.

Utah is the only other Pac-12 team still alive. If the Utes fall to Washington, their playoff hopes are gone. Beyond Washington, Utah just has the University of Colorado and the conference championship game. This is an all or nothing weekend for this team.

The Big Ten is simple for Michigan: get past Ohio State in the season finale and the championship game. It is an easy schedule for the Wolverines until they meet the OSU in a major showdown.

Nebraska is also undefeated in the Big Ten but wouldn’t face Michigan until the conference title game. Just to set up a potential matchup against the team, the Cornhuskers still have to get past the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State. At this point, it looks unlikely that Nebraska will win out.

Ohio State is the only one-loss team from the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have Nebraska and Michigan left in the regular season. This team will also have to win the title game. Few are as talented as the Buckeyes, but there is no room for error anymore.

The Big 12 faces the biggest obstacle as a conference: getting a team into the playoff field of four. That’s because of the round-robin schedule in the conference, where every team plays each other.

Baylor and West Virginia still have to play each other and the University of Oklahoma. The Bears also have Texas Christian University left and the Mountaineers has Oklahoma State University to get past. If a log jam of teams are fighting for the third and fourth spot, the Big 12 doesn’t have a conference title game to boost its champion.

Clemson is in the driver’s seat out of the ACC teams. All the Tigers have to do is beat FSU this weekend and win the title game. Unless a weaker foe upsets this team, Clemson has a good shot at getting back into the playoff field.

Louisville is the only ACC team with one loss that has a playoff hope. The Cardinals don’t have much help at the end of the season. It needs Clemson to lose twice to get into the title game, and the team has no statement games left to play.

Those are the 12 left standing, unless utter chaos breaks lose and a large group of two-loss teams get a lifeline. It seems unlikely that every team loses enough to open the door for any others.

In fact, this group should get whittled down over the next few weeks. Right now, Alabama, Michigan, Washington and Clemson look like the four best teams in the country.

History says it won’t stay that way.