College Football Playoff projection: Alabama followed by confusion

It was a good week to take a break, plop down on the couch and survey the carnage everywhere in college football. In other words: How’d you enjoy the free weekend, Clemson?

It wasn’t so long ago when there wasn’t enough room in the Football Four for all the unbeatens, and people were plotting how to pack the bracket with SEC teams and … then football happened, like it does every week, and disorder ruled.

Through seven weeks, there’s still not enough room – but other than Alabama, it seems no one’s safe. As always, remember we pick the bracket as if the season was over.*

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Football Four

1. Alabama – Another week, another overmatched SEC opponent (thanks for playing, Mizzou. Here’s a lovely parting gift). But there’s a new, uh, twist: Is Tua Tagovailoa’s knee something to be concerned about?

INJURY SCARE: Alabama’s Tagovailoa leaves early after hurting knee

2. Ohio State – Maybe it doesn’t matter, given Dwayne Haskins’ passing ability (412 yards and three TDs vs. Minnesota), but the running game is a concern. The defense remains a work in progress, too, which is why the Buckeyes didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter.

3. Clemson – After an open week, the Tigers host unbeaten North Carolina State. Key to the bigger picture: How the offense continues to develop with freshman Trevor Lawrence at quarterback.

4. Notre Dame – Pitt loomed as a trap game … and that trap almost popped shut. But phew! A fourth-quarter rally for victory, coupled with events elsewhere, move the Irish into the Football Four.

IRISH SURVIVE: Notre Dame, Book stay cool in comeback defeat of Pittsburgh

Four More **

5. LSU – Coach O leads the Tigers to a whipping of Georgia, their biggest win since – when, 2011? Yup, probably. The nation’s best resume was finally matched by the Tigers’ performance.

TIGERS ROAR: Win against Georgia puts LSU in SEC title, playoff conversation

6. Michigan – The loss at Notre Dame seems further and further in the rear view mirror. The Wolverines were impressive in beating Wisconsin. We’re starting to see the impact of transfer quarterback Shea Patterson.

HAIL VICTORS: No. 13 Michigan makes statement against No. 10 Wisconsin

7. Texas – Escaped Baylor’s upset trap, just barely. Longhorns remain in the Big 12 driver’s seat, but the ‘Horns looked more like the lesser version of themselves than the Red River giants from last week.

8. Georgia – Everything’s still possible despite the loss at LSU. But in losing by 20, a lot of flaws were exposed, creating legitimate doubt about how good the Bulldogs actually are.

A Few More After That ***

Oklahoma – Took the weekend off after that loss to Texas. With a new defensive coordinator, what will the second half look like?

Central Florida – Whew! A great escape of Memphis, but the winning streak is now 19.

Oregon – With an overtime win against hated rival Washington, the Ducks might have knocked the Pac-12 out of the playoff. But did we mention they beat the hated Huskies?

North Carolina State – Unbeaten but barely on the radar, but that could change in a hurry. The Wolfpack’s shot at relevance is Saturday at Clemson.

Florida – A tussle at Vanderbilt, but the Gators are alive in the SEC East. Up next after a bye week, a little trip to Jacksonville for a fun game with Georgia.

Kentucky – The Wildcats find themselves in the mix in what might be a wide-open SEC East.

Iowa – Hawkeyes might not win the Big Ten West – Wisconsin has the potential tiebreaker – so this is a stretch. But who knows?

Futile Four ****

Nebraska – Up by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, it seemed the Huskers would finally get their first win under Scott Frost. Instead, they gave up a 99-yard drive to tie with 12 seconds left. And in overtime, Frost’s decision not to kick a field goal on fourth-and-1. … Hmmm. Nebraska is 0-6 for the first time ever. 

Auburn – A repeat appearance in the Futile Four is not a good thing. But there’s not much good happening on the Plains right now. A loss to Tennessee – snapping the Vols’ 11-game losing streak in SEC play – dropped the Tigers to 4-3 and set the stage for a rarely content fan base to be very, very unhappy.

Oklahoma State – The Cowboys’ offense does not resemble what we’ve come to expect. The Cowboys’ season does not resemble what we’ve come to expect. And the toughest part of the schedule is still ahead.

Penn State – Remember how the Nittany Lions were great but not quite elite? What if they’re good but not quite great?

Bonus at the Bottom: Pac-12 – Yeah, an entire league. We know, Oregon, Washington State and Colorado have one loss. But with Washington’s loss to Oregon, the Pac-12’s playoff pulse is very, very faint.

* The season is not over.

** Don’t be worried that your team sits just outside the cut. This is a weekly snapshot. And what do we know, anyway?

*** See the previous note, but it’s OK to be slightly concerned or very angry. But what do we know, anyway?

**** No note necessary