It's really simple for the Cards. Now that A&M is out of the picture the following has to happen for the Cards to make the Playoff:
1) Clemson and Alabama will probably run the table and make it as the one and two seeds. So basically Michigan needs to beat Ohio State to give them their 2nd loss. That puts Bama, Clemson and Michigan into the Playoff with one spot remaining.
2) Now it comes down to Louisville and Washington. Louisville needs Washington to lose preferably twice but even once will do as long as that one loss comes in the Conference Championship game or that one loss occurs against Washington State in the Apple Cup. Then Washington isn't a Conference Champion and that is the only thing they could have that would trump Louisville's resume.
Let me also add that Washington has some of their tougher games left on their schedule. They have USC, Arizona State and Washington State in their last three games and all three of those teams have winning records. In fact Washington State is 6-0 in the Pac 12 and 7-2 overall so if Washington State beats Washington then Washington won't even have won their division as long as Washington State doesn't lose both of their other two games. If Washington makes the Pac 12 title game they'll draw USC, Colorado or Utah in the Pac 12 Championship game.
1) Clemson and Alabama will probably run the table and make it as the one and two seeds. So basically Michigan needs to beat Ohio State to give them their 2nd loss. That puts Bama, Clemson and Michigan into the Playoff with one spot remaining.
2) Now it comes down to Louisville and Washington. Louisville needs Washington to lose preferably twice but even once will do as long as that one loss comes in the Conference Championship game or that one loss occurs against Washington State in the Apple Cup. Then Washington isn't a Conference Champion and that is the only thing they could have that would trump Louisville's resume.
Let me also add that Washington has some of their tougher games left on their schedule. They have USC, Arizona State and Washington State in their last three games and all three of those teams have winning records. In fact Washington State is 6-0 in the Pac 12 and 7-2 overall so if Washington State beats Washington then Washington won't even have won their division as long as Washington State doesn't lose both of their other two games. If Washington makes the Pac 12 title game they'll draw USC, Colorado or Utah in the Pac 12 Championship game.
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