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College Football Playoff: A Saturday road map to the best final four

 
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 26:   Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines argues a call on the sideline during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio.  (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** 678475575
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines argues a call on the sideline during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** 678475575
Published Dec. 3, 2016

This is it. Today is the final day that matters in the college football regular season.

Before the weekend is over, we will have our final four playoff teams. Who those four teams are will be determined by what happens today.

So, what should we want to happen today? What gives us the best chance for a truly dramatic playoff and an awesome national championship game right here in Tampa?

For this exercise, forget about allegiances. Naturally, Gator fans want Florida to win and Nittany Lion fans want Penn State to win. Forget all that.

This is about giving college football fans the most dramatic, most compelling playoff to cap an insanely entertaining season.

So here's what to root for this weekend:

Hope Alabama loses

Not only loses but loses badly to Florida in the SEC championship. Wiped out. Blown out. Embarrassed.

Okay, that's not going to happen. It would be stunning if Florida won by a point, let alone a blowout. The reason we should hope for Alabama to get creamed? That's the only possible scenario in which Alabama might get knocked out of the playoff.

Tide fans, of course, don't want this, but the rest of us do simply because Alabama feels like an overwhelming favorite to win the whole thing.

We want an exciting semifinal game. We want a jaw-dropping title game. If Alabama is in it, that's not going to happen. It feels as if no one can challenge Alabama. It would be one thing to look back years from now and appreciate how great this Alabama team and dynasty is. In the moment, we just want a championship that's close in the fourth quarter.

Root for Michigan to get in

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is arrogant and strange. His bellyaching about officials after the Ohio State game was embarrassing and pathetic. It could be fun to see him slinking off to the Orange Bowl while one or two other Big Ten schools make the final four.

But Michigan feels like one of the best four teams in the country. The Wolverines might be among the few teams that could hang with the Tide. Based on the eye test, they might have the best chance to beat Alabama. If Michigan gets in, it likely would be as the fourth seed, meaning a semifinal match against Alabama.

Root for the Big Ten winner to not make it

The winner of tonight's Penn State-Wisconsin Big Ten Championship Game will have an argument for a spot in the final four. Especially Penn State.

Ohio State seems like a lock to get in, right? The Nittany Lions could claim a conference championship and a win over Ohio State. The CFP playoff committee would have a hard time justifying Ohio State getting in and Penn State not. Penn State could say, "What was the point of playing and beating Ohio State and winning the conference if you just going to take a team you think is better? What the heck are the games for?! Why do we even keep score?''

But here's the bottom line: Ohio State is better.

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As someone who has a soft spot for Penn State, I just don't think the Lions would be competitive, especially in a matchup against Alabama. Same with Wisconsin.

If my goal is to get the best semifinal games possible, Penn State (or Wisconsin) should get a Rose Bowl bid, not a spot in the playoffs.

Hope the Pac-12 winner is left out

For all the same reasons that we don't want to see the Big Ten winner get into the playoffs, we're hoping the Pac-12 champ that was determined in Friday night's Washington-Colorado late game is left on the outside looking in.

Root for Clemson

Clemson has two things going for it. One is playoff experience. It made the national championship game a year ago and gave Alabama a scare in a 45-40 loss. The Tigers aren't intimidated by the Tide or the big stage.

The other thing Clemson has is a superstar. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is an elite player. And if there's one X factor in a game against a powerhouse team, it's a game-breaker who can win games almost by himself. Watson is that kind of player. You want him around if you're hoping for an upset of Alabama.

The final four teams should be …

In a perfect world, the most competitive, dramatic final four would be Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma and either the Big Ten or Pac-12 champ. Any combination would make for a heaping bowl of fun.

But let's be realistic. Alabama is getting in. So is Ohio State. If Clemson and Michigan occupy the other two spots we have a chance for a special championship.