[Brian Swartz]

Maximum Carnage Scenario - it almost happened this last weekend, say everything goes wrong for the playoff hopefuls that need to win.

** Alabama not only doesn't beat Georgia, but gets embarassed. 27-3 or something. Georgia is in no matter what so all them losing would do is put Alabama in the field.

** Iowa beats Michigan, every BIG team has two losses.

** Cincinnati loses to Houston. No small-conference unbeatens.

** Oklahoma State loses to Baylor. Every Big 12 team has two losses.

So then.

1. Georgia
2. Notre Dame by default

I think there would be about 6-8, maybe even 10 teams with quite similar resumes for 3 and 4 at that point. You might as well draw the names out of a hat.

Which means 3. Alabama and 4. Ohio State probably, because when in doubt go with the name recognition?

As ever the chance of this happening is small, but it's not negligible. In isolation, I can see any of those four games going that way. It would just require a perfect storm.

Of course, what I'll be rooting for is a solid Michigan win to give them #2 or #3, Georgia wins by enough to knock out Bama, Cincinnati and Oklahoma State win to get the other two spots. Having a school out of the Power 5 make it in, Oklahoma State with their best year in a decade, and Michigan potentially being the last team Georgia has to beat ... that'd be a darned fine season for me.