Final Playoff Determined

Here's how the playoff would shake out if it started at the end of the season. Again, this is using the formula of (Winning % + Strength of Schedule). This isn't the most complex formula by any means, but it means a couple of things. First and most obvious, teams have to win. Secondly, those teams in weaker conferences need to schedule tougher. And overall conferences need to give themselves a boost to help member schools that make the playoff.

I was surprised that Ball State got in as high as they did. The fact that they went undefeated was the deciding factor, had they lost one game then most likely they would not be in the playoff. Texas got the boost over Oklahoma purely based on strength of schedule. Alabama won more games, but it was tougher for Texas to win 11 games meaning they get the nod. Perhaps Nick Saban would make the note to himself that he needs to schedule tougher or keep the SEC up.

1. Texas (1.556) (Big 12)
- A round against the Big 12 south and Missouri gave their strength of schedule a boost.

2. Alabama (1.546) (SEC
- A down SEC with opponents like Ole Miss, Tennessee and Auburn as well as two-win non-conference foe Western Kentucky didn't help either.

3. Florida (1.542) (SEC)
-Their one loss kills them, if they're undefeated they're score is 1.622.

4. Utah (1.541) (At-Large)
-Again they fact that the Utes are undefeated helps because without all 12 wins, they're towards the bottom in seeding.

5. Oklahoma (1.520) (Big 12)
-A loss to Texas appears to be the only difference.

6. Texas Tech (1.520) (At-Large)
-Ditto for the Red Raiders.

7. Boise State (1.488) (At-Large)
-Is Boise truly the seventh best team in the country? Well, that's up for debate, but they went undefeated with an okay schedule, which proved to be better than one- and two-loss teams in the Big 10, Pac-10 and ACC.

8. Penn State (1.450) (Big 10)
-Their one loss drops them to the middle of the pack. If they're undefeated they're potentially in the top five.

9. Ball State (1.432) (At-Large)
-This one is sure to spark debate. Jason Whitlock would support this, but to say Ball State is better than powers USC and Ohio State, that's up for real debate. Nonetheless, I'm picking the Cards in a first-round win over Penn State.

10. USC (1.431) (Pac-10)
-Thanks to the Pac-10 being weak this year, it hurts their best team, the Trojans. Their strength of schedule is .511, not great but no bad either. My thought is that USC and Pete Carroll will be pressuring fellow conference teams to strengthen not only their teams but also their schedules.

11. Ohio State (1.426) (Big 10)
-Ohio State actually had one of the tougher schedules. It fell in the top half of the 16 teams. However their two losses hurt them and they'll be playing a pass-heavy Texas Tech team. Smells like trouble.

12. Cincinnati (1.395) (Big East)
-Again a weak conference is what makes the difference for the Bearcats.

13. Virginia Tech (1.354) (ACC)
-12 weeks of craziness in the ACC forces the Hokies to fall towards the bottom of the seedings.

14. Oregon State (1.332) (Pac-10)
-The Beavers played four ranked teams, beating one of them. A first-week loss against Stanford was probably the biggest difference for the Beavers. It also would have helped if the Beavers beat the Ducks last week.

15. Pittsburgh (1.328) (Big East)
-An average team in an average conference.

16. Boston College (1.310) (ACC)
-Closing out the bracket is a victim of the ACC craziness.

1. Texas
16. Boston College
-Texas should cruise.

8. Penn State
9. Ball State
-Nate Davis and Co. are primed for an upset in the playoffs in State College, PA. They would go onto play a tough Texas team.

5. Oklahoma
12. Cincinnati
-A re-match of an earlier season game. Boomer Sooner rolls again.

4. Utah
13. Virginia Tech
-Utah should have no issues and win will create a very good game with Oklahoma.

3. Florida
14. Oregon State
-The Gators should have no problems.

6. Texas Tech
11. Ohio State
-You have to like Texas Tech, they hit a little bit of a rut here at the end but get by the Buckeyes.

7. Boise State
10. USC
-Perhaps the most intriguing match-up of the playoff. The Trojans have been a perennial National Title contender this decade, while the Broncos have by wanting a chance they can play with the big boys still after their upset over Oklahoma two years ago. This game will be played in Boise, and the Broncs win a close one on the smurf-turf.

2. Alabama
15. Pittsburgh
-Alabama. Enough said.

QUARTERFINALS
1. Texas
8. Ball State
-Hook 'em rolls in this one.

4. Utah
5. Oklahoma
-The Utes think they're ready for the Sooners' attack, but get left in the dust. Big Game Bob and his bunch win big.

3. Florida
6. Texas Tech
-For as good as Harrell and Crabtree can be, I think Tebow and Harvin would be much more and the Gators would go onto win this one.

7. Boise State
2. Alabama
-Boise takes the Tide down to the wire, but Alabama survives for another week.

Semi-Finals: (A very similar scenario to what we are seeing this weekend, except Missouri is playing Oklahoma. What an exciting weekend of college football this potentially could be.
1. Texas
5. Oklahoma

3. Florida
2. Alabama