CFB experts weigh in on Oklahoma’s Playoff hopes after loss to Kansas State
By Andrew Olson
Published:
No. 5 Oklahoma’s loss at Kansas State is guaranteed to shake up the Week 10 polls. Most people, however, are more interested in how it shakes up the College Football Playoff picture.
The ESPN on ABC broadcast booth opined that Oklahoma still has a path to the Playoff, but not everyone is so sure. OU falling to an unranked team is seen as a positive for one-loss teams such as Notre Dame, Oregon, Utah and the eventual loser of the Alabama-LSU game.
Here’s a small sample of what college football media members are saying about Oklahoma hurting its CFP chances:
Live look at Oklahoma's College Football Playoff hopes.https://t.co/w7H1bU8QDq
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 26, 2019
Bama and LSU fans celebrating the Oklahoma loss knowing they will probably both make the playoff now pic.twitter.com/q7EkoZvNys
— Paige (@ThatSportsPaige) October 26, 2019
Find it hard to believe Oklahoma has anything but a circuitous route to the CFP. No way a team that lost to Kansas State trumps a one-loss Big 10 or SEC. Or even Oregon. Pure nonsense.
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) October 26, 2019
Would take some major upsets to get Oklahoma in the playoff now. Unless Baylor runs the table the Big 12 is likely dead this year. Two SEC teams, Ohio State or Penn State & Clemson looks likely as your playoff four.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 26, 2019
Yep!! Already said it https://t.co/UR2A4MSFTp
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) October 26, 2019
Okay, Oregon and Utah … with Oklahoma losing, Game On in the College Football Playoff chase.
— Pete Fiutak (@PeteFiutak) October 26, 2019
1 loss Notre Dame & Oregon back in the playoff convo after Oklahoma lost to Kansas State: https://t.co/QxEbYtj4uw
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 26, 2019
Some are hesitant to jump to any conclusions:
Oklahoma's loss at K-State is going to be a sticking point in the committee meeting room because the Sooners were clearly outplayed for most of the game — but not impossible to overcome. 14 of the past 20 CFP semifinalists have lost, but OU also has to overcome a weaker…
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) October 26, 2019
The bottom line is this: OU's loss opens door for debate. Same will happen if Bama, Clemson, Ohio State, PSU lose … things can still get very interesting. Just did.
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) October 26, 2019
Oklahoma goes down!!! I don’t think they are out of the playoff yet. Chaos can still occur. Hold your horses people.#CFB
— Brendan Moore (@bmoorecfb) October 26, 2019
People have short memories. Oklahoma lost to 5-7 Texas in 2015 and at home to 7-5 Iowa State in 2017 and made CFP both years.
But who knows whether OU can win out. https://t.co/c0lkh5s3Zk
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 26, 2019
Heckuva win for @KStateFB and one of the Memorable games of the season. I’ll advise anyone suggesting it’s over for @OU_Football remember they’re a BRAND name. Plus, they’ve got a 13th data point games with potentially undefeated @BUFootball & a 13th data point Conference Title!
— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) October 26, 2019
We’re sure to hear all the Oklahoma takes over the next few weeks on “College Football Live,” “The Paul Finebaum Show,” and other shows where college football is discussed. Sunday’s rankings will offer some insight into how one-loss Oklahoma is viewed, but the most important rankings, the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings, don’t come out until Nov. 5.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
