Every year the College Football playoff selection committee upsets a handful of college football fans with their picks. This year will be no different, as at the end of the season only four teams will get the chance to compete for a national championship. However, college football has not been immune to the disruption that COVID-19 causes. With games being cancelled, conferences starting at different times, and players and coaches having to miss games due to being sick with COVID-19, many people are wondering how the College Football playoff selection committee is going to be able to evaluate these teams fairly this year.
Clemson has certainly had its fair share of adversity this season, with Trevor Lawrence missing the Boston College and Notre Dame games due to having COVID-19, losing to Notre Dame in double overtime, and having to postpone the Florida State game because Florida State did not feel like it was safe. The loss to Notre Dame does complicate things.
For Clemson to get a playoff berth, they will probably have to win the remaining games and win the ACC Championship, which will most likely be a rematch against the Fighting Irish. If Clemson wins, both teams could still be selected for the playoffs. So, that leaves two more spots.
The SEC champion, which looks like Alabama, will get in. Ohio State has the easiest path to the playoff, as there is no clear cut No. 2 team in the Big Ten. So all Ohio State has to do is win out, and they are in. Oregon may be the team outside looking in; the PAC 12 is the weakest conference out of the Power 5 this year and will need some help along the way. For Oregon to make it to Pasadena or New Orleans, they will need either Clemson to fall short in the ACC championship game or Notre Dame to lose a regular season game and lose to Clemson in the ACC championship. If Alabama loses to Florida in the SEC championship game, Alabama will still get in. So for the PAC 12 to get a team in the playoff, Oregon will need a lot to happen. Oregon is a very strong football team but will fall short unless some shake ups happen along the way.
My playoff prediction would be Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Clemson. I hope I am wrong, but I do not see Ohio State or Notre Dame losing in the regular season. Like I said earlier, Notre Dame can afford to stumble in the conference championship.
