College Football Playoff Chaos as Texas Doubts Grow

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

College Football Contenders, Potential Chaos and a Coaching Change

Looking at the odds to win the national championship, Texas is the one team on the board we do not believe in. A case can be made for every other listed contender in the College Football Playoff.

There is no reason Notre Dame cannot beat Miami and run the table the rest of the way. Miami, Georgia and Alabama could also win out, while Ole Miss may be the sleeping giant. Mississippi is still very good, and BYU just beat Notre Dame.

Texas beat Ohio State in the first week of the season, but Ohio State appeared to play better in that game. It is difficult to understand how Texas was ranked No. 1 in the country, and we are out on the Longhorns as a championship contender. Any of the other teams could win the title.

Chaos is part of what makes college football so enjoyable, even though there has not been much of it over the past couple of seasons. As the sport prepares to move to a 24-team playoff, games in weeks six, seven and eight may not mean as much because teams with three or four losses could reach the postseason.

For now, bring on the chaos. Can Sarkisian rally the troops? Is Ole Miss as good as expected? How will Notre Dame respond after a letdown? Miami nearly lost, so what will it do next? Will Florida State pack it in and treat its season as over? Those questions make this weekend especially compelling.

There was also finally a coaching change, with Maryland head coach Mike Locksley being fired. The move felt overdue after Maryland lost to Rutgers and Schiano. Much like losing to a winless Tennessee Titans team, that result represented a line in the sand.