Houston is the latest top-25 team to falter after the Rockets suffered an upset 46-40 loss on the road against Navy on Saturday night. The Cougars likely conceded any shot they had at making the college football playoff in the process while a handful of teams at the top solidified their positions as the frontrunners to make the final four over the weekend. Here is a look at the four most likely college football playoff teams right now heading to week seven of the season.
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide took care of business in a 49-30 win over Arkansas in which they jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Alabama was able to dominate from start to finish and suddenly some experts are questioning whether this year’s team is actually better than the one that won a national championship a year ago. The Crimson Tide have opened the season with six straight wins with five of them coming by 19 points or more. That is proof Alabama deserves to be the favorite to defend its title through the first six weeks of the college football season.
#3 Clemson Tigers
Clemson is ranked No. 3 in the country behind the Tide and Buckeyes, but they should have the benefit of not having to get past Ohio State or Michigan in ACC play in order to reach the playoff. The Tigers followed up their biggest win of the year over Louisville with a lopsided 56-10 win over Boston College and nobody is doubting this team’s potential anymore. Clemson will host NC State this week before going on the road for another crucial showdown at Florida State on October 29th. The Tigers will move that much closer to clinching a playoff spot with two more wins as they now have a clear path to the college football playoff.
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes
With all due respect to Michigan, the Buckeyes continued to roll with their fifth straight double-digit win in a 38-17 victory over Indiana. J.T. Barrett threw for just 93 yards and a touchdown but ran for another 137 and a score as Ohio State registered 290 rushing yards and four rushing scores in the win. The Buckeyes are winning games with their offense and defense right now and they are no co-favorites to win the national championship along with Alabama at +250 odds according to the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas. Ohio State certainly has an uphill climb with Michigan in its way in the Big Ten. While Michigan has been receiving all of the attention, the Buckeyes have quietly been just as impressive so far this season.
#4 Michigan Wolverines
Washington and Texas A&M both received consideration for this final spot but right now we will give the Wolverines a slight edge based on the fact that their chances of making the playoff will likely come down to a showdown with Ohio State at the end of November. Michigan moved one step closer to a college football playoff spot with a statement 78-0 win over Rutgers and their defense has allowed a combined 17 points over its last three games combined. The Wolverines will have another tough test at rival Michigan State this week but they should be able to pick up that win and continue to push down the road to Ohio State and the game that will likely determine whether it’s Michigan or the Buckeyes that end up in the college football playoff this season.
In terms of Washington and Texas A&M, assuming that both go undefeated, they probably won’t have to worry too much about their spots. Texas A&M going undefeated would mean that they would beat Alabama (this week), which means the Tide would slide out of a spot that they would then very likely occupy. As for Washington, they can hang their hats on the fact that Ohio State and Michigan will still play each other, so one of those teams will lose. It will be hard to put a one-loss team ahead of Washington if they are still perfect by the end of the season, so they really shouldn’t worry too much about being on the outside looking in.
