by Sandy » Fri Nov 13, 2015 8:55 am
I think the issue of not having a playoff hurts the Big 12, as does the fact that it is a smaller league, and everyone plays nine conference games, as opposed to the SEC and ACC, who, in spite of the size of their leagues, only play eight. That also means that the Pac-12 champion has had to play 10 league opponents because of the championship game. Of course, there's no predicting how the teams will actually finish, so the game by game knockout that the top Big 12 teams have to run every week here at the end of the season is an added pressure.
Clemson's in a cream-puff league, with an even more embarrassingly easy non-league schedule. They really shouldn't be in consideration, even unbeaten, and probably wouldn't be if it weren't for their very narrow, referee-assisted win over Notre Dame. They saw what was needed to be a contender, got the Irish on their schedule, and if they can hold off North Carolina's offense, they're in. Unless Alabama stubs its toe against Mississippi State, Auburn or Florida, all basically cream puff teams, they're in too. Ohio State has a tough road ahead with Michigan State at home, and Michigan on the road, plus the championship game. If it finishes out with Clemson, Ohio State and Alabama, then I think either Baylor or Oklahoma State can get in if they win out, but that's probably the only way. I'd have been pretty confident that Baylor could win out if Seth Russell had stayed healthy. If Stidham can step up to that level, they will be hard to beat. He did well last week, but that's still a big "if".