Week 12 in College Football: Who’s Making the Playoff?

Published: Monday, November 18, 2024

by Kyle Ferreira

So, who wants to be in the 12-team playoff this year?  

It’s been reiterated, echoed, and murmured: this has been a season full of upsets. No team has been immune, not even the schools that played close games and remain undefeated. With only a few weeks left before the College Football Playoff seedings are set, who will falter and who will rise?  

ACC:

Realistically, SMU, Clemson, and Miami (FL) are the only teams in the conference still fighting for a spot.  

For SMU, their first season in the new conference has been nothing short of incredible, boasting a 9-1 record and a perfect 6-0 in conference play. From the infamous "death penalty" in the 1980s to the brink of a College Football Playoff berth, it’s been a remarkable turnaround for the program.  

Clemson and Miami (FL) will battle over the next two weeks for a spot in the ACC Championship Game.  

The Tigers finished conference play at 7-1 and now face non-conference matchups against The Citadel and rival South Carolina. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes must win their next two games against Wake Forest and Syracuse — a manageable path to keep their hopes alive.  

Big Ten: 

Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, and Indiana are all in the mix to make the playoff. It wouldn’t be shocking if all four secured spots, given their talent and dominance. No. 1 Oregon is a lock, but what about the other three?  

Penn State is in a strong position, with games against Minnesota and Maryland to close out the regular season. Meanwhile, undefeated Indiana faces a pivotal test Saturday when they travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State. The Hoosiers have a chance to secure a massive win and silence critics questioning the strength of their schedule.  

Big 12:

With Oklahoma and Texas gone and four former Pac-12 schools joining, the Big 12 has been pure chaos this season. As a result, analysts project only two schools with a realistic shot at the playoff: BYU and Colorado.  

BYU’s run at an undefeated season ended Saturday with a loss to Kansas, but they should finish strong against Arizona State and Houston. Meanwhile, Colorado’s path depends on taking care of business against Kansas and Oklahoma State. If Coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes pull it off, they’ll be ecstatic. Come December, it will be fascinating to see how the committee weighs its criteria when making the final seeding.  

SEC: 

For many media personalities and analysts, predicting who will emerge from the conference feels like solving a Rubik's Cube. Texas, at 9-1, is in a strong position and looks poised to secure a playoff spot and a trip to the SEC Championship Game.  

Meanwhile, five other teams — Texas A&M, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Ole Miss — are locked in a fierce battle over the next two weeks for a spot in the conference championship and the College Football Playoff. While the path may seem straightforward, expect plenty of fireworks as the conference schedule reaches its dramatic conclusion.  

Everyone Else: 

From the Group of Five conferences, Army and Boise State stand out as contenders for a playoff spot. Boise State, led by Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty, has dominated, securing first place in the Mountain West. For Army, it’s been a historic season, and a win against Notre Dame could catapult the Black Knights into the playoff conversation.  

With two weeks left in the regular season, the picture should start to clear. But in this sport, clarity often feels like a distant dream.  

Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu. 

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