What a weekend of college football we had. From the #2 team in the land going down, to the complete domination shown by Alabama, the 2016 College Football Playoff leaders played hard.
But that doesn’t mean the 2016 College Football Playoff is set in stone. Far from it, to be exact. With previously #2 Ohio State going down in Happy Valley, the prospects of them returning diminished. However, there is still hope for the Buckeyes to make the playoff, but they’ll need to knock down a few hurdles.
Alabama, on the other hand, might have finally proven to everyone that they will be the team to beat in the 2016 College Football Playoff. The defending national champions put grit and determination on display on Saturday. In front of a raucous crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the Crimson Tide made their presence known. Most certainly, Alabama will be the team to beat.
If anyone is the surprise team of the year, it’s Washington. Undefeated, and with no signs of slacking up, the Huskies are poised to make their inaugural trip to the Playoff. But, will the PAC-12 members let them walk in easily? More than likely, they will have an all-out fight for it.
2016 College Football Playoff: Week 9
- Alabama (8-0) – Won 33-14 vs #14 Texas A&M – Week 9 BYE
- Michigan (7-0) – Won 41-8 vs Illinois – Week 9 @ Michigan State (2-5)
- Clemson (7-0) – Week 8 BYE – Week 9 @ #12 Florida State (5-2)
- Washington (7-0) – Won 41-17 vs Oregon State – Week 9 @ #18 Utah (7-1)
- Louisville (6-1) – Won 54-13 vs NC State – Week 9 @ Virginia (2-5)
- Nebraska (7-0) – Won 27-14 vs Purdue – Week 9 @ #15 Wisconsin (5-2)
- Baylor (6-0) – Week 8 BYE – Week 9 @ Texas (3-4)
- Ohio State (6-1) – Lost 21-24 @ Penn State – Week 9 vs Northwestern (4-3)
- Florida (5-1) – Week 8 BYE – Week 9 vs Georgia (4-3) in Jacksonville, FL
- Boise State (7-0) – Won 28-27 vs BYU – Week 9 @ Wyoming (5-2)
- LSU (5-2) – Won 38-21 vs Ole Miss – Week 9 BYE
- Florida State (5-2) – Week 8 BYE – Week 9 vs #3 Clemson (7-0)
- West Virginia (6-0) – Won 34-10 vs TCU – Week 9 @ Oklahoma State (5-2)
- Texas A&M (6-1) – Lost 14-33 @ #1 Alabama – Week 9 vs New Mexico State (2-5)
- Wisconsin (5-2) – Won 17-9 @ Iowa – Week 9 vs #6 Nebraska (6-0)
- Western Michigan (8-0) – Won 45-31 vs Eastern Michigan – Week 9 BYE
- Tennessee (5-2) – Week 8 BYE – Week 9 @ South Carolina (3-4)
- Utah (7-1) – Won 52-45 @ UCLA – Week 9 vs #4 Washington (7-0)
- Oklahoma (5-2) – Won 66-59 @ Texas Tech – Week 9 vs Kansas (1-6)
- Navy (5-1) – Won 42-28 vs Memphis – Week 9 @ South Florida (6-2) on Friday
- Auburn (5-2) – Won 56-3 vs Arkansas – Week 9 @ Ole Miss (3-4)
- North Carolina (6-2) – Won 35-14 @ Virginia – Week 9 BYE
- Virginia Tech (5-2) – Won 37-16 vs Miami – Week 9 @ Pitt (5-2) on Thursday
- Colorado (6-2) – Won 10-5 @ Stanford – Week 9 BYE
- Penn State (5-2) – Won 24-21 vs #8 Ohio State – Week 9 @ Purdue (3-4)
College Football Playoff Matchups
As they stand currently, here is how the College Football Playoff would happen
- Orange Bowl (#1 vs #4) – #1 Alabama vs #4 Washington
- Fiesta Bowl (#2 vs #3) – #2 Michigan vs #3 Clemson
You want some knock-down, drag-out fights? Well these games would certainly bring that. Both games will be physicality and athleticism to the forefront. But coaching may be the deciding factor in each.