The College Football Playoff landscape intensifies heading into Week 11, with crucial matchups threatening to eliminate several title contenders from the expanded playoff picture.
The Alabama Crimson Tide, ranked 11th, confronts the 15th-ranked LSU Tigers in what looms as an elimination game. Both teams enter with two losses, knowing a third defeat likely ends their playoff aspirations.
Alabama’s season stands at a crossroads after splitting major contests. Their victory over Georgia provided hope, but losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee left their playoff path narrow. A loss to LSU could push them outside the top 15 with no remaining opportunities for signature wins.
LSU faces similar pressure despite their losses coming against ranked opponents. Their early defeat to USC still impacts their standing. The Tigers must defeat Alabama to maintain playoff hopes. With one SEC loss, they could still reach the conference championship, though that presents its own risks.
The Ole Miss Rebels, ranked 16th, face perhaps the weekend’s biggest test against third-ranked Georgia. Recent losses to Kentucky and LSU damaged their resume, and they still lack a top 25 victory this season.
For Ole Miss, Georgia represents their final scheduled ranked opponent. Beyond needing this victory, they must dominate remaining games against Florida and Mississippi State to contend for an at-large spot. A loss to Georgia could drop them from the rankings entirely.
The Big 12 Conference struggles for respect in the playoff picture. BYU leads the conference at ninth, while Iowa State and Kansas State fight to stay relevant.
Iowa State’s 7-1 record hasn’t guaranteed playoff consideration. Kansas State and Colorado, both with two losses, need perfection in November while hoping higher-ranked teams falter.
This week sends BYU, Iowa State and Colorado on the road. Colorado faces Texas Tech, BYU meets rival Utah, and Iowa State battles an improving Kansas program. Any upset could derail Big 12 hopes of multiple playoff teams.
As December approaches, no team has secured a playoff position. Critical matchups between Alabama-LSU and Ole Miss-Georgia could reshape the entire landscape. Teams ranked ninth and below recognize every victory matters for securing at-large spots in the expanded format.
The selection committee’s weekly rankings add pressure to programs fighting for position. Lower-ranked teams must not only win but also dominate opponents to impress voters and climb the standings.
For teams on the bubble, November presents their final chance to build playoff-worthy resumes. Quality wins become essential as the committee weighs each contender’s full body of work.
The expanded playoff format offers hope to more programs, but also intensifies late-season pressure. Teams must navigate challenging schedules while hoping for help from other games across the country.
As the regular season enters its final weeks, every snap could determine which programs reach college football’s biggest stage.
