This year's partial football schedule for ND of ACC schools is favorable to them. If they get by Stanford this week i would expect no more than 1 ND football loss beyond. It would be interesting to see how far the brand would carry them if both ND and Clemson run the table.
If Clemson wins out in the ACC, I think they are in. If Ohio St goes undefeated and wins the B10, they are in. An undefeated XII champion in Oklahoma, due to their tight win over Army (or West Virginia should they win head-to-head) or an undefeated Penn St. out of the B10 are less secure. A really interesting scenario is if Penn St. beats Ohio St; but, then loses to at Michigan. Penn St then wins the B10 title game. Who goes to the playoffs - the conference champ Penn St, the higher ranked Ohio St team, or no one? Out West, I also think a 1-loss, PAC champ in Washington would be in the mix, too, as a 5-point loss to solid Auburn team at a so-called neutral location that is 100 miles from Jordan-Hare will look good compared to any other 1-loss team outside of the SEC.
As for the SEC, which is the apple of the selection committee's eye, they can easily get 2 teams teams in. Let's say Georgia loses to Auburn and LSU; but, still finishes first in the SEC East and then upsets Alabama in the SEC Championship. Or Georgia looses to Alabama while LSU ends-up with only 1 loss all season, to Alabama. I can see Alabama and Georgia/LSU taking two slots.
So, in summary, this is what I see as of today for the playoffs (not in order by rank)
1) Clemson
2) Ohio State
3) Alabama
4) Georgia/LSU/Oklahoma/West Virginia/Washington/ND
If an 1-loss of undefeated ND gets shut-out, there will be heck to pay. If Oklahoma/West Virginia are undefeated and shut-out, the XII will panic again. If an undefeated and conference champion Penn St is shut-out, the B10 may declare war and look to destroy the XII and/or ACC.
