The Beacons of Playoff Contedership Are Lit; The Big 10 Calls For Aid

The Power 5 conferences are refusing to answer the Big 10's pleas while demolishing their top-tier brother 10-1 thus far. Kenny Trill is dismantling Johnny Football's legacy (read: Kevin Sumlin is a tremendous quarterback coach) and he doesn't need cash grabbing signs to do it. The University of Cincinnati (1-0) has a better record than their in-state rival THE Ohio State University (2-1). Kentucky isn't just a basketball school anymore. No one is talking about Nick Saban's Tide and yet they are still 3-0. And that's how you know college football is in full swing at this point. After three weeks of non-conference gridiron battles and some light em up in-conference games only one thing is certain: no one could have predicted Penn State would be the main beacon of hope for the Big 10's playoff hopes.

10 Observations and Predictions from the First Three Weeks of College Football

After this past Saturday, Notre Dame has now played Purdue annually 68 times. That's a rivalry for all you Michigan fans whining that ND is leaving your "rivalry." The Irish have also won the past seven annual meetings by a combined score of 204-119. This independent squad still plays Stanford, Florida State, Arizona State and USC before the end of the season. With wins against these powerhouses, Notre Dame's lack of championship game will garner more support for their playoff case than any Big 12 team.

Penn State is now up there with Nebraska as the only teams in the Big 10 to be undefeated through three weeks of play. However, Penn State is the only team to have won a game in conference and thus leads the Big 10's playoff hopes. The rest of the Nittany Lion's schedule includes home games against both Ohio State and Michigan State and no consecutive road trips. Look for these guys to be at the top of the conference come December.

Kansas State faces the toughest test of their entire season on Thursday when Auburn comes to town. If they can survive a visit from the SEC powerhouse, the Wildcats could win out even with road trips to Oklahoma and Baylor. The Wildcats have had two weeks to prep for this game and will need every second they can get if they want to beat the Tigers.

Ole Miss and Texas A&M are dark horses for the playoff and yet are two front runners to win the SEC West. Oh and by the way, the SEC West has lost one game and that was when Arkansas lost to divisional-foe Auburn. #KennyTrill4Heisman

Arizona State might be the team to beat out West if anyone from the PAC 12 wants to be bowling in the playoffs. Although Oregon is the top team, the title game will be a tough fought battle between the Sun Devils and Ducks challenging the Ducks to outscore this explosive Arizona State offense.

Cincinnati has the team to win out- if they circled that game against the Buckeyes for the past several months that is- but they'll be overlooked because of their conference schedule. There is no doubt that the Bearcats' toughest test will be out of conference against Ohio State on September 27. However, if the defense gets their jitters out with another in-state rivalry game this coming Saturday against Miami (OH), the Cats can run with the Big 10 big boys in the Horseshoe.

Eight SEC teams are in the Top 25. Seven of them are in the top 15. Five of them are from the SEC West. All five of the SEC West canidates are in the top 10. If you don't think the SEC will get two teams to the CFP you are kidding yourself.

Oregon is the top team in the nation at this point. Although the SEC is the top conference, Oregon has played better to this point and should easily win the PAC 12 and a spot in the playoff. Oh and the SEC and PAC 12 will start playing home and home regular season games to settle the "Top Conference" debate by 2022.

Florida State won't win out- thus losing any shot at making the playoff- but will still win the ACC. The Seminoles simply have too many let down games and a tough title game against North Carolina or Duke to make it to December unscathed. The toughest let down game will be in two weeks when they visit North Carolina State after a home game against Clemson who are looking to wreck havoc on the Seminoles streak.

Oregon, Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame will end up in the CFP. If all of these teams are wiped off the map by alien invasion: UCLA, BYU, Auburn and Penn State make the final four.

Top 25, Associated Press be Damned
1. Oregon
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Florida State
5. Auburn
6. Texas A&M
7. Ole Miss
8. LSU
9. Notre Dame
10. MSU
11. Georgia
12. UCLA
13. Arizona State
14. South Carolina
15. Stanford
16. Missouri
17. BYU
18. Wisconsin
19. KSU
20. Clemson
21. Nebraska
22. Ohio State
23. Penn State
24. Mississippi State
25. USC