Allow this to be your first look at the playoff picture. Every team’s path is simple no matter how things stack up Tuesday when the initial CFP committee rankings are revealed: Win out, and you’ll be in. College football always surprises, but this is how things look heading into the first rankings. Think of what’s to follow as less of a firm pecking order and more of an outline of playoff buckets identifying the four available spots.
SEC: Georgia and, you guessed it, Alabama seem to be on a collision course. Bama has to get through LSU and UGA has to get through Missouri, but provided that they do they will meet in Atlanta in all likelihood with a playoff berth on the line.
Big Ten: Michigan needs to get through Penn State, but if they do it’s all systems go to Thanksgiving weekend where they play Ohio State in the de facto Big Ten championship game and CFP spot.
