3 reasons why Deion Sanders' Colorado will not make the 12-team College Football Playoff field
Sorry "Coach Prime", not this time. Off Colorado's recent loss to Kansas, the message is clear. Barring a minor miracle, the Buffaloes will not be going to the College Football Playoff. Sure, they have improved dramatically since the 4-8 season a year ago. Sure, Colorado's a tremendously exciting team.
But the Buffaloes are not quite a playoff team, and here's the rundown on why.
3 reasons why Deion Sanders' Colorado will not make the College Football Playoff
#1. They lost too many games
Sure, it's obvious, but the first and most direct fault lies with the Buffs themselves. At 8-3, Colorado has probably already lost too many games for the playoffs. While a three-loss team may sneak into the field, if it does, that team will probably be Alabama or another SEC giant.
Colorado has not played a game this season against a team that is currently in the AP top 25. The Buffs' losses include defeats at the hands of 6-5 Nebraska and 5-6 Kansas. The resume would be a bit soft even at 10-1, but at 8-3, Colorado just didn't take care of business.
#2. They're probably not going to win the Big 12
Colorado does still have a shot at reaching the Big 12 title game. Whole articles have detailed the complex situations evolving around the Big 12's four 6-4 teams (not to mention the five 5-3 teams not mathematically out of league title competition).
To make the title game, Colorado needs to win and have two of the three of Arizona State, Iowa State and BYU lose. That or Colorado, Arizona State, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Cincinnati all winning would deliver the Buffs to the Big 12 title game. And if that math is dizzying, sorry about that.
In any case, while Colorado has a chance, the odds aren't on its side, and even if the Buffs got enough help to make the game, there's no guarantee they'd win it anyway. But there's still one even bigger problem.
#3. Even if Colorado is the Big 12 champion, it could STILL miss the playoffs
The completely wild scenario here is that the Big 12 champ could miss the playoffs. While many are automatically writing the Big 12 champion into a bid, the CFP gives automatic bids to the highest-rated champions of the five leagues. The Big Ten, SEC and ACC take care of three spots. Boise State probably takes care of the fourth. But the fifth?
Well, the wildcard here is that Tulane could win the AAC and jump the Big 12 champ. The top-ranked Big 12 team, Arizona State, is No. 16 in the current CFP rankings while Tulane is No. 17. The Green Wave could steal that last automatic bid and leave the Big 12 champ, even if it is Colorado, out in the cold.
Do you think Colorado still has a shot at the CFP? Weigh in with your comments and thoughts in the comments section below.