College Football Playoff Eliminator: Week Seven Edition


By Justin Parmer
Talk about a bad week for the SEC East. Both Georgia and Florida go down, and a one-loss Missouri sits on top of the East. With the East clinging on for dear life, let’s explore who made it out of Week 7 with a shot at the college football playoffs. 
Regular season elimination method
Power-five method (and Notre Dame)

  • 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.

Teams remaining safe (9)
ACC (1)
Clemson 
Big Ten (4)
Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
Big 12 (2)
Baylor, Oklahoma
SEC (2)
Alabama, LSU
On the brink of elimination (9)
Auburn (5-1)
No Changes. Bye week.
Arizona State (5-1)
The eliminator had its fair share of questions entering Saturday’s matchup in Tempe. Is Arizona State actually a serious contender for the PAC 12, or have the teams they have played been highly overrated? Saturday’s come-from-behind victory left that question more confusing than ever before. All we know is that the trident beats Ol’ Crimson in a duel. Next week’s elimination matchup against the Utes should provide us the answers going forward. Expect both offenses to take center stage in a western shootout. 
Florida (6-1)
It may sound like the eliminator is backing on clichés, but Florida made this a game for 50 minutes. The Gators are proving themselves capable of being in the SEC conversation and, to an extent, praise on the national stage. Yet the high-powered LSU offense was just too much to handle for the hungry Gators. Now just imagine if they had lost to Miami or Kentucky in addition to this game.  The Gators would be out entirely. Yet the Gators are still in the playoff race. 
Florida’s difficult schedule on the other hand is starting to kick into high gear. The Gators will have to go through both Columbias and through the Bulldogs in Jacksonville to even have a chance at making it to Athens in December. Up first, a trip to South Carolina where the Gamecocks are coming off the biggest upset of the season thus far. Following that, the bye, the cocktail party and Columbia Missouri in November. If they manage to survive all three of these games, the Gators will have well redeemed themselves in the eyes of the committee. 
Georgia (5-1)
This is why we love college football. David doesn’t beat Goliath that often at home, let alone on the road. So when David does slay the giant, you can’t help but be happy for the underdog. Unless you’re on the opposite side of the slaying, then you drop your jaw before retreating to the gates of Ekron. The Bulldogs were the ones slayed on Saturday in front of their home crowd. 
As the cities of Columbia dance to the demise of Georgia, the Bulldogs are not out of the playoff race just yet. In the doghouse absolutely, but not put to rest. The dogs will likely have to beat three ranked AP top 25 teams and Texas A&M in order to reach Atlanta. This includes trips to Jacksonville and Auburn. The Bulldogs are going to need to get all of the rest they can get this week. Otherwise, it looks like there will be no shot at redemption against Alabama this season
Michigan (5-1) 
How did you manage to keep Lovie Smith’s Illinois squad in this game for three quarters? Never mind, you obliterated in the fourth. The eliminator is proud of you for beating the equivalent of an opponent set to rookie mode. Take your easy-out of division victory and haul your way down to Penn State. We’ll truly see if you deserve to be in the playoff race there. 
Notre Dame (5-1) 
The eliminator is not sure how to view this victory for the Fighting Irish. On one hand, the Irish beat their long-time enemy USC. On the other hand, they beat USC, and nobody knows how good USC actually is. But something tells the eliminator that only beating the Trojans by three points is a sign that bad things are on the horizon. Especially with Notre Dame’s trip to Ann Arbor in two weeks. At least between now and then will be the bye week. Enjoy the week off Irish fans. 
Oregon (5-1)
So maybe Colorado was just a bit overrated. What the Ducks did to Colorado was a pure whooping. There isn’t anything to say, the Ducks dominated from the kickoff to the final whistle. What else is there to say besides the fact that Oregon now has all of the momentum in the PAC 12 heading into their biggest game of the conference at Washington. Oregon’s playoff hopes are alive and well for now.
Utah (5-1)
Nothing to see here, just some Utes feasting on 52 Beavers they caught down by the creek. We’ll leave them alone for this week. After all, their true test comes against Arizona State next week in Salt Lake City. Over or under 70 points for both teams combined. The eliminator would bet the latter. 
Wake Forest (5-1)
Let’s be real here, the only reason why Wake Forest came up on the AP poll was because of a soft first six weeks. Even then, they narrowly escaped Mack and UNC, as well as the unpredictable Boston College, and Louisville was too much to overcome. Letting up 62 points in a single game spells the word doom on every team that gives up that amount. Serious questions about the Wake Forest defense need to be addressed immediately without hesitation because from here on out, Wake Forest’s schedule has zero cupcakes to back themselves up with. Every win from here is earned and justified. Will the 5-1 start be enough for the Demon Deacons to get into a good bowl game, or is a much worse fate yet to come?
Eliminated (3)
Iowa 
Method of elimination: Two losses
Look on the bright side Hawkeye fans, the toughest part of your schedule is over and you’re home free until the Wisconsin game. The bad news is that this is the second time the Hawkeyes have failed to put up more than two touchdowns resulting in losses. If you ask the eliminator though, it’s a shame the Hawkeyes went out with two hard-fought, one-possession losses. They should have won at least one of these games, if not both. And no, the knee wasn’t down Iowa, quit complaining about it.
Texas 
Method of elimination: Two losses
Say it with the eliminator, America: Texas is not back! Or, at least, Texas is not in the playoff hunt!
Once again, the latest victim of the Sooners was murdered by Jalen Hurts. Sounds like a broken record, doesn’t it? Well, what if the eliminator were to tell you he also added 131 rushing yards on 17 attempts and a touchdown? When Texas prevented Hurts from leaving the pocket the Longhorns couldn’t stop the air show. The eliminator would say the Longhorns have a shot at the Big Twelve still, but Baylor is 6-0. At least you still have a shot at the Sugar Bowl. 
Virginia
Method of elimination: Two losses
How did you lose to Miami? The eliminator knew you were overrated in the polls, yet this was the best you could muster against Miami? For the record Miami’s two wins prior to Virginia were Central Michigan and … Bethune-Cookman. Yeah, the less said about Miami the better. As for you Cavilers fans, the basketball season kicks off in a few weeks. Guess you have that to look forward to. 
Total number of teams eliminated: 112
Remaining teams’ games
The following are between teams that still have a shot a making the college football playoffs. Here are the elimination games for Week 8. All times are eastern standard time.
10/19/19 Michigan vs Penn State (7:30 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 8. All times are eastern standard time.
10/19/19 Arizona State vs Utah (7:00 p.m.)
Previously eliminated 
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 | ehm3gd@mail.missouri.edu

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