Five QuestionsQ. Georgia, Michigan and TCU are likely playoff-bound regardle s of how they fare in their conference championship games. But what happens if USC doesn't beat Utah in the Pac-12 title game? Who is No. 4 then?After Georgia, Michigan, TCU and USC claim the top four spots in the coming playoff rankings, it will be interesting to see how far the selection committee drops Ohio State and how much Alabama moves up. They look to be the only viable candidates to have a shot at the fourth playoff spot if USC loses to Utah. There are just no other worthy playoff candidates after Ohio State and Alabama and it will be fascinating to see how the selection committee evaluates the 11-1 Buckeyes off a lopsided home lo s vs. a two-lo s Alabama team.Of course, USC can make it simple by exacting revenge on Utah, which handed the Trojans their only lo s (43-42) earlier this year.Georgia's defense against USC Bobby Baun Jersey 's offense -- if they are Nos. 1 and 4 in the rankings -- would be a cla sic matchup.Q. Is it even po sible the playoffs can take place without the SEC champion?It has never happened before, but if 9-3 LSU -- which looked lifele s in a 38-23 lo s to Texas AM -- rises up to beat Georgia the SEC champion won't make the playoffs. LSU, which beat Alabama this year, is certainly dangerous enough to cause concern for Georgia next Saturday. But there is no way the committee will allow a three-lo s LSU team into the playoffs. Can't happen.Q. Isn't it interesting how so many people were criticizing Michigan's schedule -- especially the non-conference portion -- before Saturday's rout at Ohio State, yet few people have done a deep dive to talk about how ridiculously easy TCU's schedule has been?Michigan doesn't have to face questions about its playoff worthine s anymore, but TCU's 12-0 record sure looks largely to be a byproduct of a soft schedule. Let's be up front here: The Mats Sundin Kids Jersey Big 12 stinks this year. This is the murderer's row TCU has faced to get to 12-0: 1-11 Colorado, Tarleton State, 7-5 SMU, 6-6 Oklahoma, 6-6 Kansas, 7-5 Oklahoma State, 9-3 Kansas State, 5-7 West Virginia, 7-5 Texas Tech, 8-4 Texas, 6-6 Baylor and 4-8 Iowa State.The Horned Frogs get Kansas State in a rematch, having rallied for a 38-28 win over the Wildcats earlier this year. But TCU's schedule is sorely lacking in quality opponents.Q. Is it Caleb Williams' Heisman to lose now?The USC QB has emerged as the clear frontrunner, turning in another dazzling performance in Saturday's 38-27 win over Notre Dame, pa sing for 232 yards and a score and rushing for three touchdowns. Bryce Young, Max Duggan and Stetson Bennett are deserving of consideration -- as is Washington QB Michael Penix, Jr., the nation's leading pa ser. Penix threw for 485 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for two scores as the Huskies rolled up 705 yards of offense in a 51-33 win at Washington State. Penix has thrown for 4,354 yards and 29 YDs during Washington's 10-2 season.Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud, once the clear frontrunner, has been too inconsistent this year. And Michigan RB Blake Corum had just six yards on two carries in his team's biggest game of the year, limited due to an injury.Q. Is anyone considering Tulane's Willie Fritz for National Coach of the Year?Here's what you need to know about Tulane's 10-2 season: Fritz's team was picked seventh in the preseason AAC poll and now gets to host the league championship game against UCF -- just the second time since 1949 Doug Gilmour Jersey that the Green Wave will play for a conference title. Friday's 27-24 win at No. 24 Cincinnati was Tulane's first win over a ranked opponent since 1984.The Green Wave had lost 61 straight games to ranked opponents before upending the Bearcats.Who's HotMichigan QB J.J. McCarthyUnable to rely on injured star running back Blake Corum, McCarthy took over, pa sing for 263 yards and three TDs with no interceptions in the 45-23 rout of Ohio State. He had three TD pa ses of 45 yards or more.Illinois twins Sydney and Chas BrownSydney, a safety, scored on a 47-yard fumble return and a 39-yard pick six while Chase, Illinois' workhorse running back, played through an ankle i sue to rush for 61 yards and a score while adding 43 receiving yards in a 41-3 rout of Northwestern. Chase Brown has 1,643 rushing yards this season.New Mexico State QB Diego PaviaThe junior pa sed for three TDs and ran for three as the Aggies, under first-year coach Jerry Kill, improved to 5-6 with a 49-14 rout of Liberty on the road.Who's NotClemson QB D J UiageleleiOne of these days it's going to dawn on coach Dabo Swinney that Uiagelelei is the not the answer. The junior was 8-of-29 pa sing for 99 yards in the stunning 31-30 home lo s to South Carolina. During a key stretch of three series late, he was 0-for-6 with an interception.Oregon DE D J JohnsonScroll to ContinueWe all get it was a tough lo s to rival Oregon State. But the sixth-year senior -- which makes him a full-fledged adult -- was caught on video striking Grant Fuhr Jersey an Oregon State fan out of frustration following the 38-34 lo s. Suspend him for the bowl game.Liberty coach Hugh FreezeSince flirting with Auburn about its head coaching vacancy, Freeze has seen his team lose three straight to spoil an 8-1 start that included back-to-back wins over BYU and Arkansas. The three straight lo ses have been to UConn, Virginia Tech and New Mexico State. Freeze's selfishne s has ruined a potentially memorable season for his players.On the RiseWashingtonTerrific season for the 10-2 Huskies, who were denied a spot in the Pac-12 title game due to tiebreakers. Matt Martin Women Jersey Their two lo ses were by a combined 15 points and they have one of the nation's most dynamic offenses and quarterbacks (Michael Penix, Jr.).Kansas StateThe Wildcats get another shot at unbeaten TCU after improving to 9-3 with Saturday's 47-27 win over Kansas. K-State's three lo ses have been to Tulane, Texas and TCU by a combined 24 points -- and the Wildcats have been winning without injured QB Adrian Martinez.South CarolinaThe past two games, the Gamecocks have knocked off a pair of Top 10 teams, eliminating both from playoff consideration. Routing Tenne see would normally be the highlight of the 8-4 season -- but the feeling is the 31-30 win at Clemson will be now.Who's NotRutgersShut out for the second time this season (37-0 to Maryland), the Scarlet Blights managed all of 136 yards of offense in their fifth straight lo s. Their four wins this year came at the expense of 3-9 Boston College, 1-10 Wagner, 3-9 Temple and 4-8 Indiana and they lost five games by 31 points or more. But Ryan Day is on the hot seat for losing to Michigan?The good news for Rutgers fans: Next
