Wouldn’t you know it, the very thing the Playoff selection committee didn’t want to happen, did.

And now we’re 1 step closer to chaos.

It would’ve been easy had Ohio State beaten Michigan, whose impressive season has been tainted by a cheating scandal.

It would’ve been easier had Florida beaten Florida State, whose impressive season has been significantly dinged by the loss last week of star quarterback Jordan Travis.

But there’s no denying it now: Chaos has arrived in the final week of the final season with the 4-team Playoff.

As if 4th-and-31 in the Iron Bowl wasn’t wild enough for you.

There are 8 legitimate Playoff contenders heading into championship weekend, each with a strong argument should things break their way.

Losses from Michigan and FSU Saturday would’ve cleaned up the mess significantly, with each losing any realistic claim at 1 of the 4 spots. Those losses would’ve also made both Georgia and Ohio State bulletproof going into conference championship games, and put Alabama, Washington and Oregon in position to win and get in — with Texas on the fringe needing a Big 12 Championship and an Alabama loss.

In theory, anyway.

Because none of us truly know what the selection committee will do when the last week of the rankings arrives, and all of those metrics used for previous polls — schedule strength, game control, conference strength, etc. — are a moot point.

It’s all about the eye test when selecting the — and here’s the key, everyone — the 4 best teams.

Not the 4 most deserving teams. Or the top 4 conference champions.

A look at the Playoff breakdown heading into the conference title games next weekend:

What it should be: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Ohio State, 4, Washington.

What it will be: 1. Georgia, 2. Michigan, 3. Washington, 4. FSU

1. Georgia

What’s left: The SEC Championship, and the toughest hurdle Georgia has faced this season — and maybe the rest of the way in trying to defend back-to-back national championships.

At this point, Georgia is nearly bulletproof. The Dawgs could lose the SEC Championship Game in a 4th quarter game, and they’re (probably) not falling out of the top 4.

It would take a monumental collapse for Georgia to not make the Playoff, and that’s not motus operandi under coach Kirby Smart. The last Georgia loss was to Alabama in the 2021 SEC Championship Game — by 17 points.

The last non-Alabama team to beat Georgia by double digits was Florida in 2020 (16 points).

Playoff projection: Georgia beats Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, and advances as the No. 1 seed of the Playoff in the Sugar Bowl semifinal. And just in case anyone is wondering: Smart and Georgia are 5-1 in Playoff games — the only loss a 2nd-and-26 overtime dagger from Alabama in the 2017 national championship game.

2. Michigan

What’s left: The Wolverines, like Georgia, are essentially bulletproof. Michigan can lose to Iowa and still make the Playoff — because heaven knows Iowa isn’t blowing out anyone.

If by some wild chance Iowa beats Michigan, there may not be 24 points scored in the game. Michigan would need to lose 24-0 to put its resume in jeopardy.

But who among us believes Deacon Hill is going to beat Michigan?

Playoff projection: Michigan beats Iowa and secures the No. 2 seed and will play in the Rose Bowl semifinal. After back-to-back disappointments in the Playoff semifinals, Michigan will get 1 more shot with coach Jim Harbaugh — who is likely headed to the NFL after this season.

3. Washington

What’s left: The Huskies have an opportunity to return to the Playoff for the first time since 2016 — and they have to beat bitter rival Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game to get there.

Let me put this bitter rivalry into perspective: It’s like Ohio State and Michigan playing a 2nd time for a Playoff spot. Or Alabama and Auburn. Or Florida and Georgia.

It just doesn’t happen, and it makes the final Pac-12 Championship Game — at least, for the immediate future — a fantastic experiment of what’s to come with the Power conferences moving to single-division play in 2024.

Playoff projection: A loss to Oregon, and out of the Playoff. Washington must win the title to reach the Playoff, and likely finishes the season in the Fiesta Bowl.

4. Florida State

What’s left: The ACC Championship Game against Louisville, which despite its loss to Kentucky Saturday (in yet another fantastic rivalry game), plays significantly better defense than Florida.

That might be an issue for the Noles and new QB Tate Rodemaker, who played just well enough against the Gators. Rodemaker also beat Louisville in last year’s regular-season game — but that as completely different team (with a different coach).

Playoff projection: Louisville responds to giving up 17 points in the 4th quarter to Kentucky, and clamps down on the FSU offense — winning the ACC Championship Game and ending FSU’s Playoff hopes.

4 Out

What it should be: 5. Oregon, 6. Texas, 7. Alabama, 8. Missouri

What it will be: 5. Ohio State, 6. Oregon, 7. Texas, 8. Alabama

5. Ohio State

What’s left: Keeping coach Ryan Day from the NFL. Because other than that, it’s going to take a 4th-and-31 heave to get them in the Playoff.

What’s the path, you ask? Georgia wins, Washington, Florida State and Texas lose in championship games. In that scenario, it’s Georgia, Michigan, Oregon and Ohio State.

Look, after 4th-and-31, I’d believe anything.

6. Oregon

What’s left: The Pac-12 Championship Game against Washington — and redemption for some shaky game day decisions from Ducks coach Dan Lanning in the October loss to Washington.

The way Oregon has played since the Washington loss — giving up 96 points in 6 straight wins (16 ppg.) — looks a lot like Lanning’s version of Georgia, where he was DC under Smart.

Playoff projection: Wins Pac-12 Championship and earns the No. 3 seed in the Playoff. The Ducks will play Michigan in the Rose Bowl semifinal.

7. Texas

What’s left: The Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma State. Texas and Oklahoma State didn’t play in the Big 12 regular season, but the Longhorns will be a double-digit favorite.

Texas has avoided 3 near losses — Houston, Kansas State, TCU — since the loss to Oklahoma in October, and finished November by clobbering Texas Tech. That leaves on Oklahoma State, which has won both games against Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian, as the last hurdle.

Playoff projection: Texas wins the Big 12 Championship, and is the No. 4 seed in the Playoff. The Longhorns will play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl semifinal.

8. Alabama

What’s left: The SEC Championship Game. Look, the Iron Bowl is always all kinds of weird. Just because Alabama needed a 4th-and-31 prayer of a touchdown heave — I still can’t believe it — against an Auburn team that a week ago lost at home to New Mexico State by 21, doesn’t mean the Tide can’t beat Georgia and make the Playoff. Or does it?

Playoff projection: The Tide lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and will play in a New Year’s 6 bowl.