The one game everyone will look at from Saturday was Michigan vs Michigan State, and the crazy final play, but there were plenty other important results. Michigan State managed to stay unbeaten on a miracle play, in a game that they should've lost. The Spartans have gotten are either really good at finishing games, or they have had the best luck of any team, between beating Oregon by 3,Purdue by 3, Rutgers by 7, and Michigan by 4. The other contender in the Big Ten East, Ohio State, won 38-10 versus Penn State. Ohio State didn't play a perfect game, but beating a 5-1 team by 28 points is something people expected Ohio State to do going into this season. The Buckeyes have back to back games against Michigan and Michigan State, but also have a potentially difficult game at Illinois before those huge games. Elsewhere in the Big Ten, my Iowa Hawkeyes handled Northwestern 40-10 behind 24 unanswered points in the second half. In other words, I am happy, Iowa has five very winnable games left on the schedule and can afford at least one loss and still get to the Big Ten championship game. The toughest game remaining for Iowa would probably be either Nebraska or Indiana. Indiana isn't a great team but they also give Iowa troubles, they nearly beat Iowa in 2009 another big season for Iowa. Nebraska is the last game for Iowa and it's a rivalry game on the road, the Huskers seem to be getting better and that game will be huge for both teams.
Outside of the Big Ten Alabama, LSU, Memphis, and Stanford got big wins. Alabama won impressively versus Texas A&M and in my opinion are playing like one of the best teams in the nation. If they can get past LSU I see Alabama getting their second consecutive playoff spot. LSU has a tougher road than Alabama because they probably can only afford one loss, while they still have to play Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. Memphis beat Ole Miss at home and are now 6-0 and have the best chance of any non power conference team because of their win. They definitely win out, but still have tough games against Houston and Temple. Stanford blew out UCLA and are playing very well but still have games left against California and Notre Dame. I feel like either Stanford or Notre Dame will end up making the playoff, they are both really solid teams and both have chances to strengthen their resumes for the playoff. Both teams have "good" losses and I wouldn't be surprised if a college football playoff spot is up for grabs when they face each other at the end of the year.
When looking at the playoff there are only teams I believe can make it those teams are Ohio State, TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Stanford, Utah, Michigan State, Alabama, LSU, Clemson, and a toss up between Houston and Memphis. My current top 4: 1. Baylor 2. Ohio State 3. LSU 4. Clemson.
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