By Justin Parmer
Injuries to big time players, two undefeated teams going down, a blown 28-3 lead and another team all but locking up a spot in the playoffs … just another week in college football. With ten teams left, here is a look at who is alive, who is on thin ice and who took the fall off the cliff in this week’s college football playoff eliminator.
Regular Season Elimination Method
Power-five Method 

• Losing two games
• Losing to a group-of-five school
• Losing to an FCS school or lower
• Losing a game by 30 or more points.

Locked in tight, don’t let the upsets bite (2)
LSU
Let’s get one thing clear: LSU was never in real danger of dropping to Ole Miss. With that being said, LSU is now two games away from an all but guaranteed spot in the college football playoffs. Hold up, scratch that. LSU only has one more game to win: they have Arkansas this week.  
Clemson
Okay, okay, Clemson. You’re safe, just please stop beating the ever-living daemons out of Wake Forest. 52-3 is enough. For the humanity, just stop! Take your week, we all know you’re safe. Just go.
Teams remaining safe (1)
Ohio State 
You only beat Rutgers by what? How in the world did you let Rutgers score 21 points? That is the most the Buckeyes have given up all season. Against Rutgers! The eliminator doesn’t care that you scored 56 points, the Buckeyes should have won by at least 80 points. Take your undeserved victory against a glorified high school team, and get your butts ready. 
On the brink of elimination (7)
Alabama (9-1)
There is nothing that the eliminator has to mock here. Best wishes to Tua and his recovery. With that being said, the fate of Bama’s playoff hopes are no longer in their control. With Georgia’s victory against Auburn, the fate of Alabama relies on both winning out and the SEC championship game. If the LSU beats Georgia, Bama would likely be in over Utah and Oklahoma. However, a Georgia victory would spell doom for the Crimson Tide. Bama will now need to beat Auburn, without Tua as well. We’ll likely be in the same situation this week in regard to Bama as next week unless Penn State beats Ohio State. 
Georgia (9-1)
The East belongs to the Bulldogs. The eliminator isn’t going to congregated you on this feat, you played an extremely weak SEC East schedule. However, the Bulldogs did beat Auburn, so the eliminator will give credit where credit is due. This was their final test before LSU, and they passed with flying colors. As long as they don’t overlook the Aggies and Yellow Jackets, Georgia will get a shot at a play-in game for a national title.   
Minnesota (9-1)
Dang it Minnesota, you had one job: beat Iowa and eliminate the possibility of Illinois winning the Big 10 west. Even though Minnesota dominated three quarters of the game, the Gophers let Iowa run up the score for one quarter. That was all the Hawkeyes needed to secure the victory against Minnesota.

The loss couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the damage done by the Cyclones nearly cost Minnesota a spot in the playoffs outright. Yet, due to the committee keeping Minnesota in the top 10, the Gophers stay for now.  With that being said, any loss this late in the season is going to be amplified tenfold. Wisconsin will be a huge test for Gopher legitimacy.
Oklahoma (9-1)
There is no word in the oxford dictionary to describe the amount of luck Oklahoma received in the second half when facing Baylor. Yet somehow, some way, the Sooners are still alive on this week after fourth quarter comebacks two weeks in a row. How is Oklahoma still alive besides the high in talent? Better yet, why is Oklahoma still alive in the race?
The task for Oklahoma up ahead is no easy task either. Oklahoma is all but guaranteed a spot in the Big 12 championship game, but they still have to beat ranked Oklahoma State, to stay alive in the playoff race. Even in the hypothetical scenario where Oklahoma wins out including a beating Baylor again, the Sooners will need help getting into the playoffs. The committee has made it clear that both Pac 12 teams are ahead and will get the nod should both Utah and Oregon play one another in the Pac 12 Championship game as one loss teams. This means Oklahoma would need both teams to drop one game.  The Sooners also need both Alabama and Georgia to lose one more game as well, along with either Penn State or Clemson falling just to be safe. All of this happening is highly improbable, but the Sooners will be in great position to face either Alabama or Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. 
Oregon (9-1)
The Ducks just keep winning outside of their own games. With the possibilities of Baylor and Minnesota out of the way, Oregon has put themselves at the doorstep of the college football playoffs for the first time since 2014. Oregon showed no signs of regression either, with a 34-6 domination in Arizona. Yet despite the likely scenario where the Pac 12 will have two representatives entering the final week, Oregon is still not in a position to control its destiny. 
The Ducks not only win out against and win the Pac 12 against 11-1 Utah but must also get help from both LSU and Auburn. LSU winning out would eliminate Georgia from contention, while an Auburn victory would eliminate Alabama, and establish a 11-1 conference champion being better than a 10-2 Alabama. It’s a lot of help on paper, but with LSU domination so far this season and Alabama losing Tua, the path of the Ducks is starting to clear. A light may be at the end of the tunnel after all for the Pac 12. 
Penn State (9-1)
The jaws of the eliminator were so close to knocking out Penn State. Credit where credit is due, Indiana has been a very tough outing for every team they have face so far this season. And with the Hoosiers getting back inside the top 25 for the first time in a long time, Indiana has had a very successful season. They came this close to upsetting Penn State. Alas, it was not meant to be. 
An escape for Indiana puts the Nitty Lions in a do or die situation against the Buckeyes. If the Nitty Lions come out on top, Penn State will have the opportunity to redeem themselves in a potential Minnesota rematch. However, should the Nitty Lions falterer in the horseshoe, the Nitty Lions might be heading back to Florida for a Big 10 reserved bowl game. 
Utah (9-1)
The eliminator doesn’t have much to say about Utah, other than noting their blowout victory against UCLA. Although Utah doesn’t have the luxury of securing up their respective division, the Utes are likely on a crash course collision to face the Ducks in the Pac 12 Championship game. But if the Utes are to get in, they will need the same set of circumstances Oregon has, to secure a spot in the playoffs. And before the comment section spams a 11-1 conference champion Utah would make it in over a one loss Alabama, just remember this is the NCAA we are talking about. Don’t say the eliminator didn’t warn you Pac 12 enthusiasts
Eliminated (1)
Baylor
Method of elimination: Blowing a 28-3 lead
28-3. 28-3. 28-3. The eliminator doesn’t need to explain what happened to Baylor; the final score speaks for itself. The Bears needed to win this game and they blew it. They chocked it. Their pure ineptitude in the second half was so bad that the Falcons took a jab at them. The committee punished them accordingly. And so will the eliminator. 
Yes, the eliminator is breaking its own rules. Baylor did not lose to a FCS or group of five teams. Yes, Baylor did not lose by thirty points even though it sure as heck felt like it. Yes, Baylor is only a one loss team. But does Baylor deserve a spot in the college football playoffs? Oh heck no. Even if Baylor redeems themselves in the Big 12 championship, they would be by far the worst team amongst the one lose contenders. If they were to make it they would need everyone except Oklahoma to lose at least one more time. Until then, your done. 
Total number of teams Eliminated: 120
Remaining Teams Games
The following are between teams that still have a shot at making the college football playoffs. Here are the elimination games for week thirteen. All times are eastern standard time.
11/23 Penn State vs Ohio State (12:00 p.m.)
Elimination games
The following games are elimination games, because no matter who wins, one team will meet a criteria that will deem them unworthy of entering the college football playoffs. Here are the elimination games for week thirteen. All times are eastern standard time.
None
Previously Eliminated 
Week 11
Wake Forest (ACC)
Week 10
Florida (SEC)
Week 9
Wisconsin (Big Ten) 
Auburn (SEC)
Notre Dame (Independent)
Week 8
Michigan (Big Ten)
Arizona State (PAC 12)
Week 7
Virginia (ACC)
Iowa (Big Ten)
Texas (Big 12)
Week 6 
Michigan State (Big Ten)
Kansas State (Big 12)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
California (PAC 12)
Washington (PAC 12)
Week 5
Boston College (ACC)
North Carolina State (ACC)
Virginia Tech (ACC)
Nebraska (Big Ten)
Iowa State (Big 12)
Texas Tech (Big 12)
Washington State (PAC 12)
Mississippi State
Week 4 
Navy (AAC)
Louisville (ACC)
North Carolina (ACC)
Northwestern (Big Ten)
TCU (Big 12)
Arkansas (SEC)
Kentucky (SEC)
Texas A&M (SEC)
Week 3
Pittsburgh (ACC)
Illinois (Big 10)
Indiana (Big 10)
Maryland (Big 10)
Colorado (PAC 12)
USC (PAC 12)
Stanford (PAC 12)
South Carolina (SEC)
Week 2
Cincinnati (AAC)
Tulane (AAC)
Miami (ACC)
Syracuse (ACC)
Rutgers (Big Ten)
Kansas (Big 12)
Oregon State (Big 12)
West Virginia (Big 12)
Northern Illinois (MAC)
Western Michigan (MAC)
Vanderbilt (SEC)
Week 1
Houston (AAC)
Duke (ACC)
Florida State (ACC)
Georgia Tech (ACC)
Purdue (Big 10)
FAU (Conference USA)
Middle Tennessee (Conference USA)
Kent State (MAC)
Miami (OH) (MAC)
Mississippi (SEC)
Tennessee (SEC)
UCLA (Pac 12)
Week 0
Arizona (Pac 12)
Preseason
Connecticut (AAC)
East Carolina (AAC)
Memphis (AAC)
SMU(AAC)
Temple (AAC)
UCF(AAC)
Alabama-Birmingham (Conference USA)
Charlotte (Conference USA)
Florida International (Conference USA)
Louisiana Tech (Conference USA)
Marshall (Conference USA)
North Texas (Conference USA)
Rice (Conference USA)
Southern Mississippi (Conference USA)
Texas San-Antonio (Conference USA)
Western Kentucky (Conference USA)
Akron (MAC)
Ball State (MAC)
Bowling Green (MAC)
Buffalo (MAC)
Central Michigan (MAC)
Eastern Michigan (MAC)
Ohio (MAC)
Toledo (MAC)
Air Force (Mountain West)
Boise State (Mountain West)
Colorado State (Mountain West)
Fresno State (Mountain West)
Hawaii (Mountain West)
Nevada (Mountain West)
New Mexico State (Mountain West)
San Jose State (Mountain West)
UNLV (Mountain West)
Utah State (Mountain West)
Wyoming (Mountain West)
Missouri (SEC)*
Appalachian State (Sun Belt)
Arkansas State (Sun Belt)
Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt)
Georgia State (Sun Belt)
Georgia Southern (Sun Belt)
Louisiana (Sun Belt)
Louisiana Monroe (Sun Belt)
South Alabama (Sun Belt)
Troy (Sun Belt)
Texas State (Sun Belt)
Army (Independent)
BYU (Independent)
Liberty (Independent)
New Mexico State (Independent)
UMass (Independent)
*Missouri is bowl ineligible but is currently in the appeals process.
Edited by Emma Moloney | [email protected]