Saturday’s Ranked Games Give College Football Playoff Bubble Teams Little Room for Error Entering Week 11

Ohio State Faces a Key Test

Ohio State entered the committee’s top 25 at No. 12, despite having beaten No. 4 Indiana. In the current projection, No. 25 Boise State receives the Group of Six champion’s automatic berth, leaving the Buckeyes just outside the field.

The Buckeyes meet No. 23 Oregon on Saturday. A win could improve their position, while a loss would make the route to the postseason harder.

SEC Teams Seek Résumé Wins

Tennessee hosts No. 6 Kentucky, and LSU welcomes No. 5 Alabama to Baton Rouge. Both games give the SEC programs a chance to add a significant win. Tennessee could add to its earlier victory over Alabama by beating Kentucky. LSU has an opportunity to defeat a Crimson Tide team ranked in the top five. A loss for either team would leave it with three defeats and less room to recover.

Big 12 Pair Needs Wins

No. 15 Texas Tech and No. 17 Houston remain within reach of the playoff discussion, but both need favorable results in the weeks ahead. Texas Tech hosts West Virginia, while Houston plays Cincinnati on Saturday.

Wins may not lead to major ranking gains, but avoiding a damaging loss is important. Both teams could also gain ground if higher-ranked programs lose.

Saturday Could Shift the Picture

The upcoming games offer Ohio State, Tennessee, LSU, Texas Tech and Houston chances to improve their standing. The results will also provide an early indication of how the committee assesses their postseason résumés. With several ranked matchups on Saturday, the playoff bubble could change considerably before the committee reconvenes next Tuesday.