By: David Ware (@davidware)
Only One Week Left Before the Playoff Draft
It is very hard to believe that we have just completed week seven and rivalry week is right around the corner. Thanks to all the parity in the league this season, rivalry week has a ton of major implications for the playoffs this season. There can be a three-way tie in three of the four conferences possibly, how crazy is that? We do enter week eight with just one team undefeated and there is a realistic chance that no team finishes perfect on the regular season this year.
The Wareforce Power Index is an UNOFFICIAL rank in the CFSL that is based purely on stats much like the BCS system that was used for a long time in the NCAA. This season, we have had Alabama atop the Wareforce Power Index as they are the only team left without a loss, but they have yet to be number one in the official CFSL Rankings this season. The USC Trojans have held the top spot five out of the seven weeks and the North Carolina Tar Heels held the spot for two weeks when they were undefeated. Overall the Wareforce Power Index and the official CFSL rankings have been pretty close all season long with a few teams shifted around.
There will only be one more Wareforce Power Index after this week and from there it will be playoff time in the CFSL. For a reminder of how the playoffs work, we started a new method last year and it was really fun. The top three seeds from each conference have an automatic spot in the playoffs and then the final teams are voted in. The teams are then ranked 1-8 with the four teams who won their conference at the top and the four second-place teams from there. Those eight teams will get to draft their first-round matchup from the remaining eight playoff teams. My goal for the Wareforce Power Index is to help provide statistical data to the masses so that they can use it to vote for the best four teams remaining.
Why don’t we go ahead and dig into this week’s top ten in the Wareforce Power Index to see what shakeups we have?
10. Texas A&M (3-4) Grade: B
The Aggies move up five spots this week after their second straight conference win. The Aggies have the fifth-strongest strength of schedule in the CFSL, so even though they have a losing record they have moved up into the top 10. Two of their four losses have been by a touchdown or less this season and they dominated this past week against LSU to give them some style points. Their shot at a conference title is still alive thanks to a Texas loss this week, so week eight’s game against the Longhorns will impact who wins the Big XII.
9. Michigan (4-3) Grade: B
The Wolverines had a huge win this week as they upset rival Michigan State by 13 points. Two of the three losses this year for the Wolverines have been by a touchdown or less and they do have three convincing conference wins. They have a chance to win their 100th game in the CFSL this week as they travel to Ohio State and try to secure the second seed in the Big10. Athletic director Aaron Ike also became the winningest AD in Michigan history this week, with his 43rd win as a Wolverine.
8. Auburn (5-2) Grade: B
The Auburn Tigers continue to return to the dominant team we all expected them to be this season. The heartbreaking loss to Florida State in week one and Florida upsetting them in week four has not derailed this team from getting ready for the playoffs this season. Three straight wins for the Tigers with only one of them close, has this team primed for a deep playoff run, but the CFSL Iron Bowl will determine who wins the SEC title this year.
7. Florida State (5-2) Grade: A
Florida State continues to win the big games and moved up four spots as they did this week against North Carolina. The Seminoles still have a shot at the CFSL ACC conference title as they play current top seed Miami in week eight. Winning would give them the tiebreaker against Miami, but if Virginia Tech wins then there will be a three-way tie and a point differential against common opponents will come into play. The Seminoles hope to win and for a Virginia Tech loss.
6. Michigan State (4-3) Grade: A
Michigan State dropped two spots after a 13-point loss to rival Michigan this week. Huge wins against Oklahoma and Ohio State have the Spartans just outside the top five and fighting for an automatic playoff spot in the Big 10. It would appear that USC has a great shot to secure the Big10 title but then there are four teams fighting for just two automatic playoff spots. Let the chaos begin.
5. Virginia Tech (5-2) Grade: A
Virginia Tech didn’t move this week after beating Clemson by a field goal in a very intense game that looked like the Tigers were going to upset the Hokies. The Hokies have some huge wins this year against Michigan State, Florida, and Florida State and they also have two games in which they lost by three. The Hokies are going to be a dangerous team come the playoffs and have clinched their spot. The question is will they be the conference champs or the third-seed? Tune in to watch the ACC chaos.
4. Oklahoma (5-2) Grade: A
The Sooners move up two spots this week after their third straight win. They did have a rough spell where they lost two games in a row but have since dominated. For a short period tonight, it looked like West Virginia had a chance to pull off the upset but it didn’t last long and the Sooners pulled away. Oklahoma is currently in a three-way tie atop the Big XII but have secured their playoff spot and much like Virginia Tech, they can be the conference champ or third seed.
3. Miami (6-1) Grade: A
Miami stayed at three this week after a win, but let’s be honest with ourselves, no one expected Notre Dame to stay in the game as they did. The game went down to the final whistle as the Fighting Irish fought with everything they had and tried to upset the Miami Hurricanes who are ranked #2 in the CFSL official rankings. This week the Hurricanes have a shot to win the conference title and all they have to do is beat Florida State. A loss this week and the ACC is full of chaos and tie breakers.
2. Alabama (7-0) Grade: A
The Crimson Tide keep winning as this week they faced one of their toughest opponents yet in the Florida Gators. It was only the Tide’s third game this season where they didn’t win by more than a touchdown and thanks to four of their previous six opponents losing this week, the Crimson Tide fell from the top spot for the first time all season. They are the only team left undefeated and this week they have a chance to make a statement against the Auburn Tigers. A win for the Tide means a SEC title while a loss could create a three-way tie that gets confusing. This week will be the biggest test of the season so far for Alabama, can they finish as the only undefeated team this season, only time will tell.
1. USC (6-1) Grade: A
The USC Trojans just continued to handle business this year after their loss to Auburn in week two and they finally had their first game of the season in which it was not decided by a touchdown or less as they beat Penn State by 34 points. Those style points were just enough to edge out Alabama by a 0.004 margin to take the top spot for the first time this season. The margin of error is small for the Trojans as they face off against Oregon in Rivalry Week. The Trojans did clinch their first Big10 conference title under athletic director Jacob Cobb and it’s the first time for USC since season 10. It is only their second-ever conference title
Who will finish the season on top of the Wareforce Power Index next week is a mystery and I have a feeling it will be full of surprises so make sure you tune in to watch it all unfold live. Also, remember these rankings are UNOFFICIAL so you have to tune in on Monday at 5:30 PM CST for the Inside Blitz Podcast to see the official rankings as we are on the verge of the playoffs. Don’t forget, next week is Rivalry Week and there are sure to be some wild upsets!
Until Next Time, Keep Your Game Face On, and Your Spirits High
