Oregon’s got no choice: it’s going to be in the Big Ten title game no matter what. The Ducks are the only unbeaten in the nation at this point, and there’s no way they can fall out of the top two in the league.
Does Penn State want the opportunity to go to Indianapolis? The Nittany Lions would be in prime position if Ohio State were to fall short against Michigan, as they have a higher strength of schedule than Indiana.
It’s all there for Ryan Day and Ohio State. Beat the school from up north, and the Buckeyes go to the Big Ten championship game. Lose, and Day might not be around to coach in the first round against someone.
With Tulane botching its shot at the College Football Playoff, Boise State now essentially has its pathway clear. All the Broncos have to do is avoid a bad loss and they will be in the playoff.
This is the game that scares the living daylights out of the Big 12. Currently, the Big 12 champion would make the playoff as the last team in the field. But if Tulane keeps winning, the Green Wave could be in position to push the Big 12 out of the playoff entirely.
It’s safe to say that Memphis has already had an incredibly successful trip to the islands. Given little chance in a bracket that included Connecticut and Michigan State, the Tigers have reached the finals of the Maui Invitational, where they’re up against another brand of Tigers.
Here’s the exact matchup the Big 12 did not want to see when the Maui Invitational was announced last year. A season ago, the Big 12 knew it had scored a coup when it snagged Colorado from the decaying Pac-12, but basketball fans knew that it would create an oddity in the schedule.
This might not be what Iowa State was hoping for out of its trip to the islands. The Cyclones have not prepared well for this matchup, playing three weak opponents in their first three games.
Other than Dayton, Memphis probably has the most to prove in this Maui field. That kind of pressure can work either way, especially with Connecticut both yet to prove itself and used to facing bad offenses.