Connect with us

South-Carolina

CFP bracket bubble watch: As Alabama, South Carolina try to inch in, how to view Buckeyes?

Published

on

CFP bracket bubble watch: As Alabama, South Carolina try to inch in, how to view Buckeyes?


play

Advertisement
  • Did South Carolina do enough in win over Clemson to win over CFP selection committee? Maybe, if they forget about losses to Alabama and Ole Miss.
  • Miami’s loss kept Clemson alive and threw open the door to discussion about a three-loss SEC team entering the field.
  • Ryan Day’s latest loss to Michigan cast a pall over Ohio State, but maybe a ray of hope still exists.

Let’s play a game of yes, no, maybe so.

In this little exercise, we’ll assess teams’ playoff stock. 

Technically, no bids have been awarded, but we don’t need a committee to tell us No. 1 Oregon has earned a spot regardless of what happens in the Big Ten championship game.

The Ducks are more exception than rule, though, by avoiding pitfalls that other contenders kept getting sucked into.

I won’t tell you everyone on this list has earned a playoff spot, in the conventional sense, but playoff expansion combined with a wacky season full of upsets forces us to rewire what a playoff team looks like.

Advertisement

Yes, these teams are playoff bound

Oregon: The only question for the Ducks is whether they’ll be seeded No. 1 or No. 5. A game against Penn State will determine that.

Notre Dame: The Irish used their conference independence to perfection. They took advantage of their soft schedule and will rolll into the playoff red hot after recovering from a Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois. While other playoff teams beat up on each other in conference championship games, Notre Dame enjoys weekend off before a home playoff game.

Texas: Pair Texas winning the SEC with Penn State capturing the Big Ten, and you’d probably get the Longhorns snagging the No. 1 seed. Lose the SEC to Georgia, and the Longhorns would remain a strong candidate to host a first-round playoff game.

Advertisement

Tennessee: Beating Vanderbilt secured a spot for the Vols, and now the only question is whether they’ll be seeded high enough to play a first-round game at home (where they’re quite good) or the road (where they’re vulnerable).

Penn State: Ohio State’s dud against Michigan forced Penn State into the Big Ten championship game, where the Nittany Lions will risk their seed, but not their bid.

Georgia: The Bulldogs nearly lost to Georgia Tech. If they had, this game against Texas would have had the power to eliminate Georgia. As it is, the Bulldogs are safe, regardless of outcome. Uncomfortable with a three-loss SEC runner-up in the playoff? Then shrink the playoff.

Ohio State: It takes a true victim of the moment to think the Buckeyes jeopardized their bid by losing to Michigan, but they damaged their seeding. They’ll probably hover around the No. 8 or No. 9 seed line, which is the difference between hosting in Round 1 versus going on the road.

Indiana: The Hoosiers’ blowout win of Purdue, combined by losses from Miami and Clemson, solidified Indiana’s playoff footing. The No. 10 seed projects as the likeliest landing spot.

Advertisement

Maybe, they’ll be in the CFP bracket

SMU: The committee has been slow to recognize the Mustangs, winners of nine straight, but they can zoom to the No. 3 seed by winning the ACC crown. They still might qualify if they lose to Clemson, but that could depend on how the loss presents. SMU’s best win came against Louisville, casting a bit of doubt on its at-large résumé.

Clemson: The Tigers lost to South Carolina but managed to keep their playoff hopes afloat thanks to Miami’s loss to Syracuse that elevated Clemson into the ACC title game. A loss to SMU would eliminate Clemson. A win would unlock a bid, but likely not a bye.

Arizona State: Win the Big 12 championship, and the Sun Devils are in the playoff and vying for a bye. Lose the Big 12 championship, and it’s off to an also-ran bowl, despite an impressive turnaround season.

Iowa State: See above description for Arizona State. The same applies to the Cyclones.

Advertisement

Boise State: The stakes for Boise State couldn’t be higher. Beating UNLV would not only button up a playoff spot, it would thrust the Broncos into conversation for a bye, while a loss quite likely eliminates them.

UNLV: Upset the Broncos, and UNLV probably heads to the 12-seed. Lose, and that’s that.

Miami: Miami’s utter lack of a defense caught up with it in a loss to Syracuse. With a résumé pinned to victories over Louisville and Duke and losses in two of its last three games, Miami perhaps threw away its playoff bid. That probably depends on how the committee views a 10-2 ACC team compared to a three-loss SEC team.

South Carolina: Unranked in the initial CFP rankings, the Gamecocks stormed to the finish line with a lights-out defense and an improving freshman quarterback, LaNorris Sellers. Beating Clemson gave South Carolina more momentum than either Alabama or Ole Miss, but a bid for the Gamecocks would require the committee to overlook losses to Alabama and Ole Miss.

Alabama: Hard to imagine a three-loss team that lost to Vanderbilt and got trounced by Oklahoma would remain in the mix, but here we are. If strength of schedule and brand bias tip the scales, then Alabama will snag that final spot. Wins against Georgia and South Carolina bedrock Alabama’s case.

Advertisement

Ole Miss: The Rebels’ case nearly parallels that of Alabama: Wins against Georgia and Ole Miss are mixed around perplexing losses. The trouble is, the committee valued Alabama ahead of Ole Miss last week, so the Tide seem to have Ole Miss blocked.

No, they’re not making the playoff

Everybody else: The 18 teams listed above account for the remaining playoff contenders. If Tulane hadn’t lost to Memphis on Thursday, you could have made an argument for two Group of Five qualifiers if three-loss Clemson won the ACC, but that avenue closed with Tulane losing on Thanksgiving.

Some closing thoughts in this “Topp Rope” view of college football:

1. The clouds haven’t parted yet in Columbus, Ohio, but if the Buckeyes desire a ray of hope, here’s one: Two years ago, Michigan clubbed Ohio State at the Horseshoe. The next we saw of the Buckeyes, they were a field goal away from upsetting Georgia in the CFP semifinals.

Advertisement

Point being, Ryan Day wilts against Michigan, but he’s pretty good against most everyone else. Of course, that 2022 Michigan team I’m referencing was much better than the squad that beat the Buckeyes on Saturday. Still, there’s only one team in this field that beat OSU, and that loss came by a single point. The Buckeyes are down, but not out.

2. I predict the top 12 of Tuesday’s CFP rankings: 1. Oregon, 2. Texas, 3. Penn State, 4. Notre Dame, 5. Georgia, 6. Ohio State, 7. Tennessee, 8. SMU, 9. Indiana, 10. Boise State, 11. Alabama, 12. South Carolina, 13. Arizona State. First team out: South Carolina, because the Big 12 would claim an auto bid.

3. My latest “Topp Rope” playoff projection: Oregon (Big Ten), Texas (SEC), SMU (ACC), Arizona State (Big 12), Boise State (Group of Five), plus at-large selections Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama. Next up: South Carolina.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. The “Topp Rope” is his football column published throughout the USA TODAY Network. Subscribe to read all of his columns.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

South-Carolina

New documentary spotlighting Alzheimer’s, dementia care in SC to screen in the Midlands

Published

on

New documentary spotlighting Alzheimer’s, dementia care in SC to screen in the Midlands


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A new documentary screening soon in the Midlands puts a new spotlight on Alzheimer’s and dementia care in South Carolina

Two free screenings of “My Mama Joe: Hope & Help” will be held on Nov. 6 and 7, with the first being at Claflin University in Orangeburg. The second screening will be held at the Nickelodeon Theater in Columbia.

The film is described as a powerful story of love, caregiving and finding strength through the challenges of dementia.

Both screenings are free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Advertisement

Click here for more information.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

South-Carolina

Watch Oklahoma LB Kendal Daniels Talk OU’s Win at South Carolina

Published

on

Watch Oklahoma LB Kendal Daniels Talk OU’s Win at South Carolina


RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City.

Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more.

Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com.

Advertisement

Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.

Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Oct. 17, 2025

Published

on

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Oct. 17, 2025


play

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Oct. 17, 2025, results for each game:

Advertisement

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Oct. 17 drawing

09-21-27-48-56, Mega Ball: 10

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Oct. 17 drawing

Midday: 1-9-2, FB: 4

Evening: 6-6-8, FB: 2

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Oct. 17 drawing

Midday: 2-3-9-8, FB: 4

Evening: 7-1-9-7, FB: 2

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Oct. 17 drawing

Midday: 06

Evening: 11

Advertisement

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Oct. 17 drawing

01-02-04-31-42

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

Advertisement

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

Advertisement

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

Advertisement

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending