Only 12 schools still have a legit shot to make the College Football Playoff

On the outside, looking in, for now: Penn State and Utah

Penn State and Utah both have two losses and need a ton of help just to get back into the playoff conversation. The Nittany Lions might be the best 2-loss team in the country, but they have almost no shot to win the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Utah is suddenly in the driver's seat to win the Pac-12 South with a chance to be conference champs. But there are too many other conference champs and good one-loss teams.

12. Kentucky

Record (AP rank): 7-1 (11)

Last week's result: Beat Missouri, 15-14

Last week's playoff rank: unranked

Key games remaining: Georgia at home this week.

One thing to know: Kentucky still needs to beat Georgia and Alabama. That's probably not happening, but there is still a path to the playoff for the Wildcats to win the SEC. If they were able to pull off the impossible, they are probably in the playoff.

11. UCF

Record (AP rank): 7-0 (9)

Last week's result: Did not play

Last week's playoff rank: 11

Key games remaining: Temple, Navy, and Cincinnati at home, followed by USF on the road in late November.

One thing to know: As long as Notre Dame is in the mix, it nearly eliminates any good shot UCF has to sneak into the playoff party. If the Irish are in, at least two of the Power 5 conference champs are going to be knocked out. It is hard to imagine the committee taking UCF and knocking out a third conference champ.

10. Washington State

Record (AP rank): 7-1 (10)

Last week's result: Beat Stanford, 41-38

Last week's playoff rank: unranked

Key games remaining: Cal, Arizona, and Washington at home and Colorado on the road.

One thing to know: The Pac-12 looked dead with the elimination of Washington and Stanford, but then something strange happened: Wazzu kept winning. They still need some help — a Notre Dame loss would open the door for another conference champ — but it still feels like the Pac-12 is the first conference without a chair when the music stops.

9. West Virginia

Record (AP rank): 6-1 (12)

Last week's result: Beat Baylor, 58-14

Last week's playoff rank: 13

Key games remaining: WVU's final four games are TCU and Oklahoma at home and Oklahoma State and Texas on the road.

One thing to know: The Big 12's best hopes still reside in Norman, Oklahoma, but if West Virginia can win out, they will be able to make a case for getting into the playoff. The Mountaineers would have added several impressive wins and a conference title to their resume. But that is easier said, than done.

8. LSU

Record (AP rank): 7-1 (4)

Last week's result: Did not play

Last week's playoff rank: 7

Key games remaining: LSU still has to play Alabama at home this week and Texas A&M on the road.

One thing to know: LSU is a 14-point underdog to Alabama this week. If the Tigers lose, they are out.

7. Georgia

Record (AP rank): 7-1 (6)

Last week's result: Beat Florida, 36-17

Last week's playoff rank: 6

Key games remaining: Georgia is in the middle of a four-game stretch against ranked opponents. It started with LSU and Florida, but the Bulldogs still have Kentucky and Auburn. Only the Auburn game is at home.

One thing to know: Despite Georgia's loss to LSU, they still have the better chance to make the playoff thanks to the easier path in the SEC East. But they are still going to have to beat Alabama to get in.

6. Oklahoma

Record (AP rank): 7-1 (7)

Last week's result: Beat Kansas State, 51-14

Last week's playoff rank: 9

Key games remaining: Oklahoma has Texas Tech and West Virginia on the road, and Oklahoma State at home.

One thing to know: OU has re-established itself as the class of the Big 12, but there is still no guarantee that the conference will get into the playoff. But the Sooners' chances of making the playoff are better than the chances of Georgia or LSU as both of those teams already have one loss and still have to face Alabama.

5. Michigan

Record (AP rank): 7-1 (5)

Last week's result: Did not play

Last week's playoff rank: 5

Key games remaining: Penn State at home and Ohio State on the road to end the regular season.

One thing to know: The winner of the Big Ten still has the edge over the winner of the Big 12 and whoever the second team from the SEC might turn out to be. That means, the final playoff spot could be decided by the winner of the Ohio State-Michigan game.

4. Ohio State

Record (AP rank): 7-1 (8)

Last week's result: Did not play

Last week's playoff rank: 4

Key games remaining: Michigan State on the road and Michigan at home.

One thing to know: The loss to Purdue did not change much. The winner of the Big Ten East is almost certainly going to be decided by the Ohio State-Michigan game. If the Buckeyes win that game and then win the conference title game, they will still be Big Ten champs with just one loss. In other words, Ohio State may still control their playoff destiny.

3. Notre Dame

Record (AP rank): 8-0 (3)

Last week's result: Beat Navy, 44-22

Last week's playoff rank: 3

Key games remaining: Notre Dame's final four games are Northwestern on the road, FSU and Syracuse at home, and then USC in California.

One thing to know: Notre Dame has a 66% chance of making the playoff, according to ESPN's playoff predictor.

2. Clemson

Record (AP rank): 8-0 (2)

Last week's result: Beat Florida State, 59-10

Last week's playoff rank: 2

Key games remaining: Clemson's final three games are Boston College on the road, followed by Duke and South Carolina at home.

One thing to know: Clemson is peaking at the right time. Over the Tigers' last three games, the average score at the end of the third quarter was 44-2.

1. Alabama

Record (AP rank): 8-0 (1)

Last week's result: Did not play

Last week's playoff rank: 1

Key games remaining: Alabama has three games remaining against teams in the top 25: Auburn and Mississippi State at home, and LSU on the road this week.

One thing to know: For much of the season, Alabama felt like the one team that could still be considered a lock even if they lost a game. That doesn't feel as certain anymore with several other conference champions and one-loss teams potentially vying for one or two spots.

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