Eliminator Week 13: We're down to only 10 teams that can make the CFP

ByMARK SCHLABACH

November 28, 2016, 9:41 AM

 -- The CFP selection committee's worst nightmares came true on Saturday.

No. 2 Ohio State defeated No. 3 Michigan 30-27 in double overtime, and Penn State beat Michigan State 45-12 to win the Big Ten East and earn a spot in Saturday's Big Ten championship game.

That means there's a chance a conference non-champion might make the four-team field for the first time, and there's a possibility that two teams from one league will make the top four for the first time in the three-year history of the playoff.

The top contenders for the playoff, besides Michigan, held serve in Week 13, so there wasn't a lot of movement in The Eliminator, which is trimming the 128-team FBS field to four teams for the playoff.

Western Michigan, which finished 12-0 by beating Toledo 55-35 on Friday, was eliminated by default. The Broncos were No. 21 in the selection committee's rankings last week, and they're not going to climb high enough to make the playoff field. Broncos coach P.J. Fleck's team is still in great position to row its boats to a New Year's Six bowl game if it beats Ohio in Friday's MAC championship game.

Through 13 weeks, The Eliminator has eliminated 118 FBS teams, and that leaves 10 in contention for four spots. Here's where FBS stands after Week 13:

Jump to sections: Who's in? | Still in contention | On the fence | Better luck next season | Previously eliminated

Who's in?

Let's assume No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State are two of the four teams in the field. The Crimson Tide plays Florida in Saturday's SEC championship game, and the Buckeyes' regular season is over after they knocked off the Wolverines.

If Penn State beats Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game, will the committee still select the Buckeyes over the Nittany Lions? Penn State beat Ohio State 24-21 on Oct. 22 and would have won its league. Will the committee ignore head-to-head results and conference titles? Or will the committee take both Big Ten teams at another league's expense? Those are going to be the million-dollar questions on Selection Sunday, if Penn State wins the Big Ten championship.

No. 4 Clemson also remains in good position to grab one of the four spots after routing rival South Carolina 56-7 on Saturday. The Tigers should be in good shape to make the playoff for the second straight season if they defeat Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game.

No. 5 Washington, which beat Washington State 45-17 in Friday's Apple Cup, might move into the top four after Michigan's loss. No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Colorado and No. 10 Oklahoma State are on the outside looking in right now, but they might sneak into the field if any of the aforementioned teams fall in their respective conference championship games.

Still in contention

Alabama Crimson Tide

Trending: UP

The last time Alabama wasn't ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, Tommy Bowden was still coaching at Clemson. The Crimson Tide have been ranked in 143 consecutive polls, dating back to the end of the 2007 season.

Clemson Tigers

Trending: UP

Come on, Dabo. Aaron Burr probably even shook Alexander Hamilton's hand before he killed him.

Michigan Wolverines

Trending: DOWN

I can't understand why Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is so upset about the controversial spot on Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett's fourth-down run in the second overtime. The missed pass-interference call on the Wolverines' previous offensive possession was so much worse.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Trending: UP

Sure, you can get into the playoff without winning your division -- as long as you play in an SEC division.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Trending: UP

Hey, at least Tom Osborne isn't coaching Ohio State and looking for his first national championship, am I right?

Washington Huskies