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Every week we take a look at what results from across the country Florida State football fans should be rooting for. With the loss to #1 Clemson last Saturday, FSU's 2015 playoff hopes and goal of a fourth consecutive Atlantic Division and ACC title ended, but the young and rebuilding Seminoles still have a lot to play for in the final stretch of the season. For starters, FSU can still win 10 regular season games, extend its home win streak to 21 games, complete its fourth consecutive season without suffering a home conference loss, beat the hated Gators for the third consecutive time (and fifth of the past six games in the series) en route to a third consecutive state championship, and possibly clench an at-large berth in a New Years Six Bowl. There are three total at-large bid slots up for grabs in the Peach and Fiesta Bowls, and FSU will likely need to win out and have both Clemson and ND make the College Football Playoff in order to clinch one of those spots. While FSU is probably on the outside looking in for a NY6 slot right now, the 'Noles did not drop a single spot in the College Football Playoff poll following the Clemson loss, and there are a lot of teams ahead of FSU in the Top 15 that still have to play each other before season's end. In the big scheme of things, this season can still be a big success if the 'Noles finish strong. With those remaining goals in mind, let's get into this weekend's matchups. The games are organized by conference.
ACC
Miami (FL) at #23 North Carolina: Miami. I know, I know. FSU would benefit from a UNC loss, however, because if UNC enters the ACC Championship Game with only one loss, they would probably be in a better position for an at-large NY6 bid even if they lose to Clemson in Charlotte (similar to Georgia Tech last year with the Orange Bowl, minus the conference tie-in). UNC remains a game up on Pitt in the Coastal, holds the head-to-head tie breaker over both Pitt and Duke, and has a 2-game lead on Miami. The 'Noles would benefit from a UNC loss that wouldn't knock the Tar Heels out of the driver's seat in the Coastal but would hurt their at-large NY6 hopes, so FSU fans should quietly hope for a Miami (FL) upset on Saturday.
Wake Forest at #4 Notre Dame: Notre Dame. FSU needs Notre Dame to stay in the playoff hunt if the 'Noles want a chance at a NY6 at-large berth at the end of the season. If Notre Dame drops a game from here on out, FSU's NY6 hopes take a big hit. The current Top 4 is the status quo FSU needs to have a chance to get to the Peach Bowl. We all know Wake Forest isn't beating Notre Dame in South Bend anyway.
#1 Clemson at Syracuse: Clemson. FSU needs Clemson to stay in the playoff driver's seat if the 'Noles want a chance at a NY6 at-large berth at the end of the season. FSU wasn't punished by the CFP committee for the loss to the Tigers last weekend, and the 'Noles will continue reap benefits in the CFP poll if Clemson runs the table. I'm certainly not one to pull for a conference foe merely based off conference affiliation (see: every SEC fan), but since FSU can't catch Clemson in the ACC Atlantic, the Tigers winning out helps FSU's NY6 hopes at this point.
American
SMU at #20 Navy: SMU. The Naval Academy is complicating everything after their win over Memphis last weekend. At this point, the Midshipmen may be the best bet for the NY6 Group of 5 automatic bid. If Navy continues to win, the NY6 bowl selections will probably have to be delayed until after the Army-Navy game outcome on December 12th. No one wants that.
#21 Memphis at #24 Houston: Memphis. Houston remains undefeated in the American. Memphis has a loss to Navy. If Houston runs the table, they could complicate the NY6 bowl berth situation if both them (or Memphis) and Navy win out. Houston has UConn and Navy left on their schedule after the Memphis game, while Memphis has Temple and SMU remaining after Houston. The American will certainly clarify itself over the next few weeks, but FSU's NY6 at-large berth hopes benefit from more American losses, particularly undefeated Houston.
Remember, the American is getting one team into a NY6 bowl due to the automatic bid rule for the highest-ranked Group of 5 team. It's still too early to tell with any certainty who will win the American. With one American team essentially guaranteed to get in, FSU benefits from one of these American teams pulling away from the field and having the rest drop off. As the American standings clear in the coming weeks, it will be easier to determine who FSU fans should root for in this conference. Until then, it's best to root against every ranked American team.
Big 12
Kansas at #15 TCU: Kansas. After dropping their first game of the season last week to Oklahoma State, TCU remains one spot ahead of the 'Noles in the CFP poll. They are still in the thick of it for the Big 12 championship, as well as a NY6 bowl berth, because the Frogs still have to play Oklahoma and Baylor. FSU fans should root for TCU to drop at least one more game and get out of the Seminoles' way in the Top 15.
#8 Oklahoma State at Iowa State: Iowa State. Oklahoma State is undefeated sitting at #8 in the CFP poll after their win over TCU last weekend. This Iowa State game is the final road game for the Pokes, as they face Baylor and Oklahoma at home the final two weeks of the regular season. This round-robin Big 12 format will clear itself in the last few weeks, so the 'Noles will certainly benefit from the four Big 12 teams currently ranked ahead of them in the CFP poll playing each other the last two weeks of the season, assuming the 'Noles handle their own business. However, an Iowa State upset at home over Oklahoma State would be welcomed and unexpected help. The Pokes are coming off a big, emotional win last Saturday and could be due for a letdown game, particularly if they're overlooking Iowa State for the looming Baylor and OU games. FSU fans should therefore root for Iowa State on Saturday.
#12 Oklahoma at #6 Baylor: Either outcome helps FSU, so this one is a personal choice based off who you think might win the Big 12 and who might remain a NY6 at-large competitor out of the Big 12. The Big 12 round-robin format certainly complicates this pick a little bit. Oklahoma already has a loss and is still ranked ahead of FSU, so there's a valid argument to root for Baylor to hand the Sooners a second loss, thus getting OU out of FSU's way in the CFP poll. Baylor is still undefeated, but they also still have Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas remaining on their regular season schedule. OU has TCU and Oklahoma State remaining on its schedule after Baylor. While getting Oklahoma out of the way immediately helps FSU in the CFP poll, it would certainly complicate the playoff picture for Baylor to keep winning because FSU needs Clemson and Notre Dame both to make the playoff. On the flip side, how likely is it that Baylor finishes the regular season undefeated? They're playing a true freshman QB and the Bears haven't defeated a single team with a winning record to date. Either outcome is good for the Seminoles, so go with your gut on this one.
Big 10
#3 Ohio State at Illinois: Ohio State. Ohio State is undefeated and currently a Top 4 playoff team, and FSU benefits from the Top 4 remaining the same. There are also additional positives for FSU if Ohio State were to run the table. In that scenario, the Buckeyes would have beaten Michigan State and Michigan in the regular season, and likely-Big 10 West champ Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. Ohio State singlehandedly could knock at least two teams (if not 3) currently ahead of FSU out of FSU's way in the CFP poll, and thus hugely help FSU's NY6 at-large berth hopes.
Maryland at #13 Michigan State: Maryland. Michigan State dropped its first game of the year to Nebraska last weekend, and they are competition for a NY6 at-large berth for FSU. They're also ranked 3 spots ahead of the 'Noles in the CFP poll. Florida State fans should therefore root for Maryland to pull the upset on Saturday and get Michigan State out FSU's way in the Top 15. Michigan State and Ohio State face off next weekend in Columbus.
Purdue at #18 Northwestern: Purdue. Northwestern is only two spots behind FSU in the CFP poll, and remain competition for a NY6 at-large berth. An upset by Purdue would end Northwestern's chances at getting into a NY6 bowl. Additionally, the more Northwestern loses, the more Stanford's SOS suffers (Northwestern is Stanford's only loss to date). The worse Stanford looks, the more that helps Notre Dame's chances of making the College Football Playoff, a requisite for FSU getting a NY6 at-large berth. FSU fans should therefore root for Purdue to pull the upset on Saturday.
#14 Michigan at Indiana: Indiana. Michigan is ranked two spots ahead of FSU in the CFP poll despite also having two losses. Another Michigan loss would help FSU's ranking and NY6 at-large bid hopes. FSU fans should root for a Hoosier upset on Saturday.
Minnesota at #5 Iowa: Minnesota. Iowa is undefeated and only has Minnesota, Purdue and Nebraska remaining on its regular season schedule. Minnesota might represent the best chance to knock off Iowa before the Big 10 Championship Game. An Iowa loss would also help maintain Notre Dame's position in the Top 4. FSU fans should root for a Golden Gopher upset on Saturday.
Pac 12
Oregon at #7 Stanford: Oregon. Stanford remains the biggest playoff threat from the Pac 12, which would be a threat to Notre Dame and Clemson, and thus a threat to FSU's NY6 hopes. Stanford is also ranked ahead of FSU, and only has one loss. FSU would obviously benefit from a Stanford loss to a bad Oregon team. At this late stage in the season, its hard to see the committee keeping Stanford ahead of FSU in the poll if that happens and FSU beats NC State. FSU fans should therefore root for a Stanford loss on Saturday.
#10 Utah at Arizona: Arizona. Utah can still win the Pac 12, so they remain a threat to Notre Dame and Clemson for a playoff spot. However, they are far enough back in the CFP poll that they also represent an immediate NY6 at-large berth threat to FSU as well. An Arizona upset would end both of those Utah threats and help FSU's NY6 berth hopes and the 'Noles' position in the CFP poll. If Utah and Stanford win out, they'd face each other in the Pac 12 Championship Game, so one of those teams will be out of FSU's way in the end regardless, assuming FSU remains a NY6 threat at the end of the regular season.
Washington State at #19 UCLA: Washington State. UCLA is ranked behind FSU, but the Bruins could still win the Pac 12 South, and they still have Utah and USC remaining on their regular season schedule. FSU doesn't need any teams behind them in the CFP poll jump them, or add any additional NY6 at-large berth competition. FSU fans should therefore root for a Washington State upset on Saturday.
SEC
#11 Florida at South Carolina: Sakerlina. In case you missed it (and I know you didn't), Florida crushed Vandy 9-7 last Saturday, needing a late 4th quarter field goal at home to finish off a team with a 3-6 record that lost to Western Kentucky and suffered a 34-point shutout loss the week before to Houston. Despite this very impressive 2 point win, the Gators fell a spot in the CFP poll to #11. Meanwhile, the 'Noles stayed put at #16 despite a 10-point loss on the road to the #1 team in the country. That's just life in the ACC Atlantic. You get rewarded for facing tough conference opponents and you get rewarded for quality losses. In the weak SEC East, you can win and drop because you don't play anybody. Florida couldn't hang in the ACC Atlantic. How's it feel to have the tables turned on ya, UF?
But really, we don't need a reason to root against UF. We all would love for the 'Noles to finish off UF's delusional playoff hopes in two weeks, so if they manage to get by juggernauts South Carolina and Florida Atlantic in the next two games before us, so be it. That result would help FSU's SOS and NY6 at-large berth hopes even more if FSU and UF are both Top 10 or Top 12 teams and the 'Noles come away with a third consecutive Victory in the Swamp. A Gator upset by either USC or FAU would still be a fantastic outcome, though. Since the Gators are ranked ahead of FSU and would definitely fall behind FSU in the CFP poll if they lost to South Carolina and FSU beats NC State, Go Cocks.
#2 Alabama at #17 Mississippi State: Alabama. Ole Miss' loss to Arkansas means the SEC "doomsday scenario" is essentially dead unless Alabama drops an unexpected game. It's looking likely that Alabama will win the SEC West and will be the favorite over UF in the SEC Championship Game. The worst case scenario for FSU's NY6 hopes at this point is to have another SEC team not named Alabama create chaos, upset the Top 4 status quo, and throw another team into the NY6 at-large berth competition. Mississippi State, who is currently ranked one spot behind FSU, would also jump FSU in the CFP poll if they upset Alabama. While keeping the SEC shut out from the playoff would be pretty awesome, that outcome is highly unlikely and FSU benefits from the Top 4 remaining the same. FSU fans should therefore root for Alabama to win on Saturday. We all know SEC fans will piggy-back on Alabama's accomplishments regardless.
Arkansas at #9 LSU: Arkansas. LSU is ranked ahead of FSU currently, and also only has one loss. A second loss to unranked Arkansas would knock LSU down the polls and knock a NY6 at-large competitor down a peg. LSU has to go to Ole Miss next weekend, and finishes its regular season at home against Texas A&M. Its certainly within the realm of possibility that LSU drops another game or two before the regular season ends, even if they survive Arkansas.
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