Looking into some of the craziest College Football Playoff scenarios going into Week 11: The Missouri Method
Tuesday night was the first look into the College Football Playoff bracket and what the committee deems playoff worthy.
Now, with that in mind, there are still over 25 teams that have an outside shot to make the field, and with how crazy this season has been, any one of these teams can enter the postseason this year.
Here’s how the Missouri Tigers can get in.
Missouri (6-2, 2-2)
The Tigers came into the season with not a lot of momentum on their side after stars like offensive tackle Armand Membou, wide receivers Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr. and quarterback Brady Cook all left for the NFL.
It was a tough class to replace, but the Tigers found some good players to fit into their system. Offensive guard Cayden Green moved to the tackle position, and Missouri brought in wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. from Mississippi State as well as quarterback Beau Pribula from Penn State.
Heading into Week 1, there was no set starting quarterback for the Tigers, but after an injury in the first quarter to senior Sam Horn, and a relatively good showing from Pribula, Mizzou had its starter for the year.
The Tigers pulled out a close Week 2 win in the renewal of the Border “Showdown” and constrained LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina to take the final scheduled Mayor’s Cup for the next few years. Missouri also handled Louisiana and UMass to start the season 5-0.
MORE CFP NEWS: Why Notre Dame is ranked ahead of Miami despite head-to-head lossÂ
The next three games for Mizzou were not as easy though. The Tigers welcomed the Crimson Tide in a highly anticipated showdown. And after a game sealing interception, the Tigers dropped their first game of the season to lose 27-24.Â
The next week, Missouri was on the road for the first time all year at Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on Auburn, in what was one of the weirdest games for the Tigers. Somehow, they managed to steal a win in overtime before going to Nashville the next week for College Gameday. The Tigers suffered a heartbreaking loss as they came up an inch short on a hail mary play, and Pribula suffered a brutal ankle injury that has sidelined him for this week’s game.
The Tigers came in at No. 22 in the initial CFP rankings, and they’ll face new yearly rival No. 3 Texas A&M this week. Missouri will be trotting out true freshman quarterback Matt Zollers who entered the game against Vanderbilt late after the Pribula injury.
Zollers finished the rest of the Vanderbilt game 14/23 with 138 yards, a touchdown and a turnover. It’s going to be tough, but with two weeks of preparation, Zollers and the Tigers should be able to put a good fight up this week.
Now, looking ahead, the Tigers have one more game at home versus Mississippi State, and then finish the season on the road against No. 12 Oklahoma and Arkansas.
With how stacked the SEC has been this year, it’ll be tough for the Tigers to get into the playoffs, so here’s the Missouri Method into getting into the postseason this year.
OTHER SCENARIOS: Some of the craziest College Football Playoff scenarios: Michigan’s way in
MISSOURI (FINAL RECORD: 10-2, 6-2)
Unlike Michigan, the Tigers mostly control their own fate. All they need to do is win out. They don’t need to make the SEC Championship, so they just have to win. Mizzou has a pair of tough games to get through with a home game this weekend versus No. 3 Texas A&M, and then a road trip to Norman to face No. 12 Oklahoma. Again, like Michigan, it won’t be easy, but it’s possible.
ALABAMA (FINAL RECORD: 11-2, 7-2)
The Crimson Tide cruise to an SEC Championship game, and they more than likely lock up their spot in the playoffs before championship games are played. However, they drop the SEC Championship in the final game before the playoffs, snapping an 11 game win streak. Unless Coach deBoer wears the “Black Hoodie of Death”, then Alabama wins out.
GEORGIA (FINAL RECORD: 10-2, 6-2)
Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs look for their third national title in the last five years. The Bulldogs finish the season strong and beat rival Georgia Tech in the final game of the season, but they do drop to Texas in Athens. This loss ultimately eliminates them from contention in the SEC Championship, but the “Mean Machine” still make the 12-team field once again.
TEXAS A&MÂ (FINAL RECORD: 10-2, 6-2)
The Aggies sit atop the conference at this very moment, but they have a pair of tough games in their final four visiting Mizzou and Texas. Ultimately, this scenario is about Mizzou, so the Aggies lose that one, and they go down to Austin and get beat by the Longhorns. Texas A&M, at 10-2, still gets into the field of 12, finally making its first College Football Playoff.
OLE MISS (FINAL RECORD: 10-2, 6-2)
Ole Miss is the wild card of this article, mainly because Ole Miss’ one loss came against one of the few non-common opponents between them and Mizzou. The Rebels win two of their final three, but they lose the Egg Bowl to rival Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have had a rough SEC slate, but rivalry games are about who shows up, and I have a feeling State can show up.
VANDERBILT (FINAL RECORD: 9-3, 5-3)
Since Mizzou lost to Vanderbilt, the Commodores have to lose at least one more game for the Tigers to get into the playoffs. I think they lose to Tennessee in their final game of the season, especially since it’s on the road. It was a fun ride, but ultimately, Vandy’s Cinderella season comes up just a tad bit short.
TEXAS (FINAL RECORD: 11-2, 7-2)
The Longhorns started their season off rocky, but after the last two weeks, the offense seems to be rolling, and the defense needs to finish the games off. If those two start working in tandem, it’s hard to see this Longhorn team slowing down. They have a tough challenge in Georgia next week, but if they win that one, they can join the field of 12, and maybe even earn a bye with an SEC title.
The SEC in this scenario ultimately receives six bids to the playoffs with six two-loss teams. Missouri is able to sneak in alongside them to create a really interesting playoff, especially if one of these teams isn’t able to get it done this year.
Once again, these are just the craziest scenarios, and not what I believe WILL happen, but it’s fun to look at what could happen this year.
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