EVENTUAL 2025 2026 NATIONAL CHAMPION Michigan State University 37, Purdue 14
We need to win out to get to a bowl game, but our last two games have been late blow outs. Purdue has been bad all year, but the way my October and November have been going it would be my luck for them to pull it together Saturday. Fuck, we need this.
Oregon is off, but two of the remaining unbeatens are playing. Both are in pretty tough games, and the odds are Oregon will be the only unbeaten left standing by Sunday. In order of the possibility of the unbeaten going down:
Our Lady of the Perpetual Tie 27, Army 10
Army is locked into the AAC Championship game. OLotPT has a clear edge in talent, especially defensively, and should keep the Army ground only attack in check. Talent will tell, but I think Army can shorten the game and keep it relatively close. But not close enough to steal the game.
the Ohio State University 31, Indiana 21
Has Indiana benefited from a soft schedule? Oh my, yes. 6 and 5 Washington has been the best team they have played all year. But they have played hard, physical football on both sides of the ball all year, and all you can do is beat up the teams you are scheduled to play and they have beaten most of them hard. Part of me thinks that they have not seen anything like the physicality and speed, not to mention skill position talent, that the can bring. Another part of me sees a the team that has been sporadically unimpressive and can be had by a well coached, determined team. I think it is close for a while, but the wears Indiana down.
The rest of the games that impact the playoffs, in order of possible upsets.
the Arizona State University 27, Brigham Young 20
People have been sleeping on the ASU and Kenny Dillingham all year. Literally and figuratively. That is what comes from having to play your home games at 11 at night east coast time so that it is only in the upper 90s instead of One hundred and Holy Fuck is it hot degrees at game time. But they play sound defense and Skattebo, Leavitt and Tyson are a pretty good nucleus for the offense. I low key wish Leavitt had stuck around, even though I like what Chiles brings to the table.
Old Mississippi 31, Florida 14
Old Mississippi are really, really, REALLY going to regret that Kentucky loss, because it is likely that losing that game will knock them out of the CFBP. Well, and that loss to the LSU is not holding up all that well. In the Mexican Standoff of God Apostrophe S Conference two loss teams, they are Tuco. Florida is playing like they want Napier to stick around. Good on them. I would not be surprised if they made this a better game than my prediction indicates.
Colorado 35, Kansas 13
UK is fresh off destroying the Pure Prairie League chance for two playoff teams, as no PPL team has anything like the resume of the God Apostrophe S Conference two loss teams. They would love to scuttle Colorado also, but I think Colorado is going to the Championship, with only winless in Conference the other OSU left. By the way, if you flipped the Pure Prairie League standings, you would be mildly surprised at UCF, but otherwise the top teams would look like most people expected at the start of the year.
the Pennsylvania State University 27, Minnesota 6
The PSU has played roughly the same schedule as Indiana, except they have already played the. Well, and Illinois, which is now ranked. They are probably fortunate that they will not be in the Big I Have Given Up Counting Championship game. A one loss the PSU looks good for the playoffs, but a two loss team would be sunk against God Apostrophe S Conference two loss teams that have played much tougher schedules.
Alabama 35, Oklahoma 7
Barring an upset with the last game rivalries, there are six God Apostrophe S Conference teams fighting for probably four spots. Which means no slip ups allowed. Georgia and Alabama, of the two loss teams, have better resumes than the other four teams, slightly better than Old Mississippi and Tennessee, much better than whichever of the Texas teams loses next week. But they do need to take care of business. I am pretty sure this season is not what Oklahoma had in mind coming into the year. I think they may rethink the application of the Peter Principle come season end.
Texas 27, Kentucky 17
Texas A and M 37, Auburn 10
Texas has been a top ranked team ever since they beat Meatchicken, but that one win has looked less impressive week by week. At this point, their best win has been Vandy. A second loss would be a serious problem. TAMU already has two losses to very good teams, frankly no one wants to play with the Cocks right now, but they cannot afford a third. So next week, the fat is on the fire for these two teams. This week? Kentucky has had its moment in the sun, and Auburn hired Hugh Freeze. When you dance with the devil, he will fuck you eventually.
Methodist * 35, Virginia 10
U 35, WtFU 32
While SMU v U looks like Atlantic [sic] Conference Championship game, neither team is good enough to overlook the next two games. I think SMU has overachieved their actual production and the U has had too many nail biters to discount either team losing this week, even to mediocre teams.
the Boise State 38, Wy? 27
The Fightin Tater Tots are in the seat of the driver God I hate this site and its aversion to apostrophes in cut and pastes for that non power conference slot, and it would not be a total surprise if that wound up being the bye over the Pure Prairie League Champ.
Tennessee 42, Texas El Paso 14
They are really, really, REALLY going to regret that Arkansas loss, because it is likely that losing that game will knock them out of the CFBP. That the other loss is to Georgia slots them slightly ahead of Old Mississippi. They need to flex on the College of Mines and Metallurgy of the University of Texas this week to stand out of the crowded two loss teams. Smoking a Vandy team that beat Alabama next week would help.
Georgia 132, Mass 3
Georgia is done with God Apostrophe S Conference. It is a confusing mess for who gets into the Championship game, because there are likely to be five two loss teams, but not being in the playoffs may be better for Georgia. They have an impressive resume, not only for who they have beaten but who they have lost to. As nice as it would be to have the bye, avoiding that third loss is key.
North by Northwestern 20, Meatchicken 17
Bragging fodder for someone in the yankguy household over Thanksgiving dinner. Meatchicken will be firing their offensive coordinator on December 1, though it is not like he is the one who decided the team did not need a quarterback. In reality, I think what is happening to them this year is a result of the decision made by so many players to stick around one more year to win a Championship. Anyway, The Game is next week, and while it is always a tricky game for either team, Meatchicken probably needs this for bowl eligibility.
University of California * 32, University of California ** 27
This game should be played in the evening, the last regular season power conference game of the year, the culmination of a day of football from the OSU v Michigan through Oklahoma v Nebraska game to this one, while my father *** and I roast hot dogs in the fireplace. That it is not is everything wrong with modern college football. Now get off of my lawn!
Iowa 13, Maryland 9
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
ClemSIN 47, Citadel 14
I am not sure ClemSIN is totally out of the playoff picture. The crushing Indiana might open up another slot, but I suspect that would go to one of the two loss God Apostrophe S Conference Teams. ClmSIN s hope is the is a realistic chance that one or both of the U and SMU lose one of their final two games and puts them in the Atlantic [sic] Conference Championship. But you know what is really going to kill their chances? Losing next week to South Carolina. Which they will.
Trinity 35, Mary Hardin, Mary Hardin-Baylor 27
Look, I am glad to see the Crusaders back in the D III Playoffs, but asking them to take on the Father, the Son AND the Holy Spirit is a bit much, even if the first two are homoousion.
John Caroll 31, Mount St. Joseph 24
The winner goes up against Mount Union, and while I am tempted to root for an All Mount Semi Final, the game is at Don Shula stadium, and the reminder that he is a JCU alum is the type of data point that drives my picks on games I do not know shit about.
* Southern
** Los Angeles
*** Damn I miss him this time of year.
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