Football Soccer: Four means, three to watch the conference championship weekend

We’re one week away from revealing college football matchups.

Alabama’s 48-45 loss to Auburn and Minnesota’s 38-17 loss to Wisconsin reduced the potential Playoff field to seven teams with one or fewer losses. There’s still room for the chaos factor in the final week of the season, though.

MORE: How Alabama’s loss to the Iron Bowl affects Playoff’s appearance

Sporting News breaks Playoff capital into academy football on weekend championship:

College Football Playoff: Four at

1. Ohio State (12-0)

The Buckeyes should retain first place after a decisive 56-27 win over Michigan on Saturday, which sealed a perfect season in the Big Ten play in front of a third straight bunk league championship game. The Buckeyes have Heisman-caliber players in Justin Fields, J.K. Dobbins and Chase Young and could potentially miss the big championship game against Wisconsin and reach the Playoff. The Buckeyes have to keep the other undefeated teams for that first position.

2. LSU (12-0)

The Tigers led 31-0 to 50-7 with Texas A&M, away from last year’s seven-overtime thriller. Joe Burrow can deliver LSU’s first championship since 2011, and the Tigers are likely to come even if they lose. But this is no guarantee and Georgia will try to defend this group. The Tigers can still run on the first seed.

3. Clemson (12-0)

The Tigers defeated South Carolina for the sixth straight win with a 38-3 victory that proves Clemson’s dominance at the Palmetto Bowl. Trevor Lawrence passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns and the program has the chance to win a fifth straight ACC championship against Virginia. The Tigers don’t get the same buzz for first place, but keep in mind that the defending national champions have won 27 consecutive games. This is a shadow that embraces the other candidates.

4. Georgia (11-1)

The Bulldogs racked up 219 yards against Georgia Tech 52-7, but D’Andre Swift’s injury will be a big story that will lead to the SEC Championship game. Georgia’s Playoff route is simple: win LSU, win a second SEC Championship in three years and take the final spot on qualifying wins over Notre Dame, Florida and Auburn. This loss to South Carolina on October 12 would probably be forgiven. Can Jake Form organize a semifinal matchup against Georgia, the Georgia transfer that leads the Buckeyes?

MORE: Ohio State demonstrates widening gap against Michigan Big Ten

Soccer Soccer: Three to watch

5. Utah (11-1)

The Utes Playoff route is open with the loss of Alabama. Utah threw Colorado in the second half of a 45-15 game that earned them a place in the Pac-12 Championship game. Oregon will be a test, but Utes’ methodical offense and tough defense continue to resonate with the loss of USC. Would a Pac-12 Championship campaign with a loss be enough to keep the Big 12 champion?

6. Oklahoma (11-1)

Let’s start with the Pac-12. Oklahoma beat Oklahoma 34-16 at Bedlam on Saturday, giving it a chance to win the Big 12 Championship – Oklahoma’s fifth straight – with just one loss. That would make for an interesting argument with a potential Pac-12 Utah champion, though the Sooners would prefer Oregon to beat the Utes to make that point. Oklahoma’s loss to Kansas State is a notable disadvantage, and the Sooners’ defense is not as rounded as some other Playoff contenders. But the offense is equivalent to Ohio State, LSU and Clemson, and the matchup against Baylor is also the only Power 5 Conference Championship game between teams with a loss. Will the Oklahoma chip lead to a final minute in the playoffs?

7. Baylor (11-1)

The Bears still have a case, even with the regular season loss in Oklahoma. Baylor have the advantage of playing in the Big 12 Championship in a rematch against the Sooners, against whom they led 28-3 at one point in their regular-season meeting. This is the reward in a remarkable 11-1 regular season under Matt Rhule, covered in a 61-6 outburst against Kansas on Saturday. Can a Baylor team with a loss make the Playoff over Utah? It’s easier to imagine after Alabama lost to Auburn and Minnesota in Wisconsin, but a Georgia win in the SEC title game could put a key to that. The sugar bowl would not be a bad consolation prize.

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