Entering this past Saturday's action, the top four teams in the country were steady and that figured to not change, with no team facing what seemed like a daunting challenge. Iowa State's upset of third-ranked Oklahoma – in Norman, no less – threw the playoff picture into chaos, opening the door for teams like Georgia, Washington and TCU to potentially win their way in. Penn State may be the biggest winner of all, as they would likely avoid a match-up with Alabama in the national semi-final if the current situation holds. Still, if Saturday proved anything, it's that things are likely to change between now and early January.
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Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman
Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Navy vs. Virginia
Dec. 28, 1:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Jack Stephens Field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Annapolis, Maryland
Virginia's place in this game reflects two things; the fact that they could be as good as 8-1 through nine games, and the fact that they very well might be 8-4 at the conclusion of their season. A brutal three-game stretch to end things might derail some of the optimism Bronco Mendenhall has created in Charlottesville.
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Camping World Bowl
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
NC State vs. Texas Tech
Dec. 28, 5:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
NC State has been strong thus far, but a two-game stretch on the road against Notre Dame, followed by a tilt with Clemson, should bring them down to earth a bit. Still, 9-3 and a bid to the Camping World Bowl seems like a solid consolation prize.
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Valero Alamo Bowl
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma vs. Utah
Dec. 28, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Alamodome
San Antonio, Texas
There has been no more shocking a result in college football all season than Oklahoma losing on its home field to Iowa State. It was incredibly destructive to their playoff hopes, and the guess here is that they lose one more game and end up in San Antonio against a surprising Utah team.
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San Diego County Credit Holiday Bowl
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa vs. Stanford
Dec. 28, 9 p.m. ET (FOX)
Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego, California
Bryce Love may well be a victim of East Coast Bias, and it's a shame, because he's got a strong case as the best player in college football this season. A game against the Hawkeyes would give him a chance to compare his production with Saquon Barkley's.
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Kentucky vs. Georgia Tech
Dec. 29, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
Of all the hypothetical contests being discussed, this one admittedly has the least amount of intrigue or appeal. There is, however, the opportunity to see Georgia Tech's triple option offense in action against a Kentucky team off to a very strong start.
Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Washington vs. Notre Dame
Dec. 29, 3 p.m. ET (CBS)
Sun Bowl,
El Paso, Texas
Here's another unusual theory: the Huskies lose twice the rest of the year, Stanford and Washington State, and end up in the Sun Bowl, where they'll take on a Notre Dame team with decent talent, but not enough to handle Washington.
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Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville vs. LSU
Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Nissan Stadium
Nashville, Tennessee
Should this game come to pass, it would be a match-up of Lamar Jackson, still one of the country's most electric individual talents, against an LSU team that seems to finally be finding some success with Matt Canada's offense.
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NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Utah State vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Arizona Stadium
Tucson, Arizona
The Warhawks have a perfect 3-0 record in the Sun Belt, and while the Aggies are only 1-1 in the Mountain West, these teams appear to be on a collision course for a meeting in Tucson.
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Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma State vs. USC
Dec. 29, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
This one could be plenty of fun if it materializes, with Mason Rudolph guiding the Cowboys against possibly the most talented opponent they'll face all year – including possible national title contender TCU. Oh yeah, some guy named Sam Darnold plays for USC, too.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Virginia Tech vs. Florida
Dec. 30, Noon ET (ESPN)
EverBank Field
Jacksonville, Florida
Save a wholly understandable loss against Clemson, Virginia Tech has chugged to a workmanlike 5-1 record thus far. That will eventually earn them a date with Florida, in what could be a defensive slugfest in Jacksonville.
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AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Arkansas vs. West Virginia
Dec. 30, 12:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, Tennessee
The Mountaineers were hard-luck losers against TCU, but there is plenty to be impressed with in Morgantown. Should this game come to pass, Dana Holgorsen's team should have too much for Arkansas.
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PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Washington State vs. Wisconsin
Dec. 30, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)
University of Phoenix Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
The Cougars may well top Washington for the Apple Cup, but the guess here is that they might end up as the unbeaten team with a major gripe about being left out of the College Football Playoff. Wisconsin will provide a nice test, however.
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Capital One Orange Bowl
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Miami vs. Ohio State
Dec. 30, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
Mark Richt appears to have the Hurricanes "back," though we've heard this story before. If he gets them to the Orange Bowl against an opponent the quality of the Buckeyes, the narrative will be much more believable.
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina vs. Michigan
Jan. 1, Noon ET (ESPN2)
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
The Gamecocks seem primed to finish in the neighborhood of 8-4, which should still be enough to land them in Tampa. 9-3, with perhaps an upset over Georgia, would make them an even more attractive candidate.
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Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia vs. South Florida
Jan. 1, 12:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
The Bulldogs would be a good dark-horse choice to make the playoff, save for the pesky issue of Alabama standing in their way in the SEC. As it is, they'll take the consolation price of at least playing in the same building as the National Championship Game.
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn vs. Michigan State
Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
Count this as an unexpected vote for Sparty to get into a prominent bowl, as their gut-check win over Michigan may propel them back into a good degree of national prominence.
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College Football Playoff at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
(1) Alabama vs. (4) TCU
Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET, (ESPN)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
The door certainly is open for TCU to claim the Big 12 title and find its way into the College Football Playoff. Washington and Georgia both have perilous paths ahead if they want to claim the fourth seed.
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College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
(2) Clemson vs. (3) Penn State
Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET, (ESPN)
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
Kelly Bryant is expected to play this Friday for Clemson, though they may not need him, and the Nittany Lions deserve the benefit of the doubt until they trip up – which may well not happen.
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College Football Playoff National Championship Presented By AT&T
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
(1) Alabama vs. (2) Clemson
Jan. 8, 8 p.m. ET, (ESPN)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
It's the game that most college football fans want to see, and they're likely to get it. The Crimson Tide and Tigers appear to be on a collision course for a third straight title game meeting.
Chris Mueller is the co-host of The PM Team with Poni & Mueller on Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan, Monday-Friday from 2-6 p.m. ET. Owner of a dog with a Napoleon complex, consumer of beer, cooker of chili, closet Cleveland Browns fan. On Twitter at @ChrisMuellerPGH – please laugh.