5 major teams nearly eliminated from College Football Playoff after Week 14 debacle ft. Miami

Week 14 of the 2024 college football season has come to a close, so it's time to look ahead to the college football playoff. There were several surprising results over the weekend, as many top teams lost to unlikely opponents, so the playoff field is in flux.

Some teams that looked like locks to make the playoffs no longer have a guaranteed spot. Others who were on the cusp of making the playoffs are now nearly eliminated following disappointing results.

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Five teams nearly eliminated from college football playoff

The college football playoff will consist of 12 teams this season. The five highest-ranked conference champions automatically earn a spot, with the four highest-ranked teams among them earning a bye through the first round. The other seven spots will go to the seven highest-ranked non-conference champions.

The final rankings won't be released until after the championship weekend. As a result, it's impossible to know with 100% certainty which teams will qualify and which won't. However, based on results, it's easy to say that some teams are nearly eliminated.

#1 Miami

No. 6-ranked Miami (10-2) lost 42-38 to Syracuse on Saturday. The Hurricanes entered the weekend as one of the top-ranked teams and appeared to have a manageable game ahead of them. With a win, they would have secured a spot in the ACC Championship.

However, they lost and squandered a spot in the ACC Championship despite leading the conference for most of the season. To exacerbate matters, a loss to an unranked team like Syracuse could drop them down the rankings significantly. So, a playoff spot is no longer guaranteed.

#2 Tulane

No. 17-ranked Tulane (9-3) lost 34-24 to Memphis in a Thanksgiving game on Thursday. The Green Wave was already a long shot to make the playoffs, but the loss to Memphis has made it almost impossible. They won't have a high enough ranking to be one of the extra seven teams to earn a playoff berth.

So, the only bath is to earn a spot via a conference championship. While Tulane is favored to beat Army, they are likely to be the sixth highest-ranked conference champions.

They have a slim chance of making it if they stay ahead of No. 22-ranked UNLV and beat No. 11-ranked Boise State in their championship game. If that happens, Tulane could earn a playoff spot as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion.

#3 Clemson

No. 12-ranked Clemson (9-3) lost 17-14 to No. 15-ranked South Carolina on Saturday. A loss to the Gamecocks was expected to knock them out of the ACC Championship Game and push them too far down the rankings to qualify for the college football playoff.

Fortunately for the Tigers, Miami had an unexpected loss to Syracuse, and as a result, they will play in the ACC Championship Game. Winning that game is the only path to the college football playoff for Clemson.

#4 Texas A&M

No. 20-ranked Texas A&M (8-4) lost 17-7 to No. 3-ranked Texas on Saturday. To have a realistic shot to make the playoffs, the Aggies needed to win on Saturday to make the SEC Championship Game.

However, the loss knocks them out of contention for the SEC Championship and more than likely will keep them from being ranked high enough to qualify for the college football playoff.

#5 Kansas State

No. 24-ranked Kansas State (8-4) lost 29-21 to No. 18-ranked Iowa State on Saturday. The Wildcats already had a slim chance of earning a ranking high enough to qualify for the playoffs, but a loss nearly sealed their fate.

Although anything is possible when the final rankings are released, Kansas State is likely out of the college football playoff.