In the three years of the College Football Playoff, seven teams ranked outside the initial top four made the four-team field. That gives hope to No. 9 Wisconsin, who's undefeated and should finish the regular season undefeated.
While running the table may get the Badgers into the playoff, it also may not be enough.
Wisconsin is 8-0 but has zero résumé-building wins. And even if they beat Michigan in Week 12 and one-loss Ohio State (assuming the Buckeyes win out, which is no guarantee with Michigan and Michigan State still on the schedule), the Badgers could have a tough time impressing the committee enough to leap one-loss teams.
MORE: Which Teams Were Snubbed in the Playoff Rankings?
RELATED: Tracking Jonathan Taylor vs. Ron Dayne's Freshman Season
Here's a very real scenario in which Wisconsin does not make the field despite a 13-0 record.
[divider]
1. Alabama or Georgia wins out.
Even a one-loss SEC champion Tide or Bulldogs would still get a spot over Wisconsin and it's possible a one-loss non-SEC champion could stay above Wisconsin. The latter is unlikely, though still in the realm of possibility.
2. Clemson or Miami (FL) wins out.
It seems more likely Clemson wins out than Miami by beating North Carolina State, Florida State and South Carolina during the regular season plus Miami or Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship.
3. Notre Dame wins out.
If the Irish beat Miami and Stanford on the road and Wake Forest and Navy at home, they're guaranteed a top-four spot, if not top two.
Similarly to Clemson (or Miami), this includes the Big 12 Championship. Oklahoma and TCU can't both win out because they play each other in Week 11, but if the Sooners beat Oklahoma State in Week 11 and win out, or if the Horned Frogs beat Texas in Week 11 and win out, either team would be ahead of Wisconsin.
5. Oklahoma State isn't done yet.
If Oklahoma or TCU do not win out, Oklahoma State could jump Wisconsin by doing the same. Remaining wins over Oklahoma and Iowa State plus another top-tier foe in the Big 12 Championship might be enough.
6. Washington wins out.
Beating Stanford, Washington State and either Arizona or USC in the Pac-12 Championship would give the Huskies a solid résumé worthy of consideration.
[divider]
Clearly, these are a lot of "ifs," "mays," and "mights," but that's the point, to illustrate possibilities that might cause severe criticism of keeping an undefeated Power Five champ out of the College Football Playoff.
Each of those six items — which would produce five (at minimum) playoff-worthy teams ahead of Wisconsin — are realistic and cannot be dismissed as potential roadblocks to Wisconsin's playoff quest.
[divider]
COMPARE: College Football Teams | College Football Players
[divider]
