Furd should currently feel cheated.

They played two nonconference games against teams with 10 wins, annual rivalry game with ND and an away game at Northwestern. No other team has done that this year.

For this exact reason, The Cardinal has had to keep playing catch up to all of the other contenders. We should be rewarding teams like Furd for bold scheduling.

In addition, Furd did not play an FCS team. It wasn't Furd's fault that UCF went 0-12 b/c when they scheduled UCF, they finished that year 12-1 ranked #10 and a Fiesta Bowl win over Big 12 champion Baylor.

The Cardinal also played 9 conference games PLUS a championship game. Most conferences only play 8 games. The Pac-12 is clearly the most balanced conference top to bottom (with the exception of doormats Colorado and Oregon State). Despite our 9 game conference schedule, we managed to send 10 of our teams to bowl games.

It should also be noted that only 1 team has ever went 9-0 in conf. play (Oregon in 2010). Meanwhile, numerous teams have gone 8-0 in conf. play. The difference between 8-0 and 9-0 is huge.

In addition, the Pac-12 is the only "repeat" conference title game. Clemson did not face UNC in the regular season, hence both went 8-0. UF and Bama both did not meet in the regular season. In fact, these conf. members barely play each other in the regular season (2x every 12 years), so why are they even in the same conference?

Unfortunately, it is because of the conf. 9 game schedule and the tough non-conference schedule that Furd is even being questioned for a playoff spot.

I say, how many teams would go 10-2 with Furd's schedule? Not many, probably. Or even better, Furd could have gone 12-0 in other teams' schedules. Bama's schedule, please...Bama is playing their first 10 win team this season. In the Swamp, UF barely beat doormat Vandy 9-7, and a 2-8 Sun Belt team took them to OT. Finally, UF laid an egg against FSU 27-2. Not to mention, Bama is barely 1-1 against currently ranked teams, and I think Miss St. is super overrated and padded their wins with an easy non-conference schedule.

UNC is playing their first currently ranked team this year, and they played 2 FCS opponents. UNC also lost to 3-9 Sakerlina (who lost to FCS team at home). Furd would stomp over Sakerlina.

Shame that Iowa is 12-0 b/c any team could have gone 12-0 with that schedule. MSU, despite losing to Nebraska on a controversial fluke play, should handle this Iowa team easily.

Really, Furd should be a lock for the #4 spot. Realistically, this will happen...

The locks for the playoff will be OU and MSU-Iowa winner.

If EITHER Bama or Clemson lose, then Furd should get the next spot. The playoff would be these four teams: OU, MSU-Iowa winner, Furd, Bama or Clemson.

If BOTH Bama and Clemson lose, then the Ohio State should be next in line. In this case, the playoff would be: OU, MSU-Iowa winner, Furd, the Ohio State.

However, if Bama, Clemson, AND Furd lose, UNC gets the last playoff spot. The Final Four: OU, MSU-Iowa winner, the Ohio State, UNC.

Either way, Furd gets at least a spot in the Rose Bowl if they win. If they are in the playoff, then Oregon will likely get the Rose Bowl. No way the Rose Bowl picks 5 loss SC over 3 loss Oregon, who beat SC.

If SC wins, they get the Rose Bowl. Furd likely heads to the Alamo Bowl, and Oregon will probably head to the Holiday Bowl.

Either way, I am rooting for chaos.

Look at the poll on the bottom, who should get the last two spots? NOTE: I disregard UF because they are so behind at #18, I don't see them jumping to #4 even if they beat Bama.