Why These Teams Will or Won’t Make the 2019 Playoff

The College Football Playoff is the most important goal for the top teams in every Big 5 Conference. Check out reasons why the current Top 10 will or won’t make it to the 2019 College Football Playoff.

Why These Teams Will or Won’t Make the 2019 College Football Playoff

“It was the most significant milestone in college football.” #CFBPlayoff Executive Director @BHancockCFP on the creation of the Playoff. pic.twitter.com/Lix0YhnWuM

— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) July 18, 2018

Alabama

The Crimson Tide returns almost every player from a very good offense. The key for Alabama will be to develop young defensive players, specifically in the secondary. That shouldn’t be an issue because Alabama always reloads on defense. Alabama will make it to the College Football Playoff.

Clemson

Clemson projects to have the best defensive line in the nation. The Tigers also face a Florida State squad in transition. Miami must rebuild its offensive line. Virginia Tech is the only team on Clemson’s schedule that can possibly beat them. VA Tech only has an outside shot to upset Clemson. The Clemson Tigers will stamp their ticket to the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes maintain their third ranking in the Coaches Poll even though Urban Meyer may, or may not, be the head guy in Columbus once the regular season starts. Even if Meyer remains, there are questions around Ohio State’s ability to be as dominant on offense as they have been in the past. The Buckeyes won’t make the College Football Playoff.

Georgia

Georgia’s offense projects to be okay even though they’ll be without Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, two of the best running backs in college football last season. The Bulldogs must replace eight starters on their defense, though. Also, the schedule isn’t nearly as easy as one might think. Road games against South Carolina and LSU and home games versus Auburn, Florida, and Georgia Tech aren’t cakewalks. The Georgia Bulldogs won’t make the College Football Playoff.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma must win a lot of games without last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Baker Mayfield. The schedule is pretty tough this season. Oklahoma must beat Iowa State, Texas Tech, TCU, and West Virginia on the road. The Red River Rivalry versus the Texas Longhorns is always a difficult battle. The Sooners could lose 3 games during the regular season. Oklahoma will not make it to the College Football Playoff.

Washington

This Washington Huskies squad is the best that Chris Peterson has ever had. Washington returns a senior QB who plays behind arguably the best offensive line in the nation. The defense should be rock solid, like Peterson’s defenses always are. It’s difficult to see any team on Washington’s schedule, outside of Auburn in Week 1, beating the Huskies. Washington should stamp their ticket to the College Football Playoff.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin remains the class of the Big Ten West Division. The problem Wisconsin has this season is that although it’s offense will be very good, it’s defense will be a work in progress. Wisconsin doesn’t have the offense that can outscore every opponent it faces in the regular season. Road games at Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, and Penn State are potential losses. The Wisconsin Badgers won’t make it to the College Football Playoff.

Miami FL

Miami doesn’t have a terribly difficult schedule. The Hurricanes’ toughest game might be on Nov. 17 when they battle Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Still, Miami’s a tough team to put into the College Football Playoff. If they win the ACC Coastal Region, they must still face Clemson in the ACC Championship. That’s definitely a loss. Also, Miami must rebuild it’s offensive line, so, they could lose a game or two during the regular season. Miami will not get into the College Football Playoff.

Penn State

The Big Ten is deeper this season than it has been in a long time. The Nittany Lions should win the conference, though. The only difficult road game is versus Michigan on Nov. 3. Penn State battles Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin at home. The offense will be dynamite while the defense should be better this season than it was last season. The Penn State Nittany Lions will make the College Football Playoff.

Auburn

The Auburn Tigers should be competitive in the SEC. Although Georgia’s getting most of the press as the top challenger to Alabama for the conference championship, Auburn most definitely has the better shot at beating Alabama. But, the Tigers face Washington in Week 1. Then, they must beat Georgia and Alabama on the road. It’s difficult to see Auburn losing less than 2 games during the regular season. Auburn most definitely will not make it to the College Football Playoff.