Washington State Football: Road to the College Football Playoff
By Ed Stein
It didn’t get better for Washington State football in the College Football Playoff rankings this week, the Cougars remained in eighth place. These are some of the things that need to happen for WSU to make the final four.
The College Football Playoff Committee released their second ranking of the season this week. Mike Leach’s Washington State football team remains in eighth place. They are behind the first place teams of the other power-five playoff conferences. It’s going to take a bunch of things to happen most of which are out of WSU’s control for them to earn one of the four playoff spots.
# 8 Washington State
Remaining Games: at Colorado, vs. Arizona, vs. Washington, PAC-12 Championship Game?
Utah’s loss to Arizona State last week was a mixed blessing. On the negative side, it destroyed WSU’s strength of schedule. On the plus side, I don’t think Mike Leach and company want to face the Utes defense again. Other good Cougars victories have turned into mediocre wins as well. Oregon, Cal, and Stanford, three good teams, who were all ranked in the top 25 at one point or another all have at least three losses.
Obviously, the Cougars need to win out. They are at Colorado this week, which should be a win as is their home game against Arizona on November 17. That sets up an Apple Cup Showdown with Washington for the PAC-12 North title the day after Thanksgiving (provided UW does their part) for all the marbles, so to speak.
Winning is one thing, but the Cougs also need to make an impression on the committee. They have to pour it on the next four games.