Well, folks, it turns out going through every good team’s remaining schedule and figuring out which 12 teams will make the expanded College Football Playoff — not to mention the order in which they’ll be seeded — is approximately as doable as squeezing blood from a geranium.
If you don’t believe me, try it. No, not the geranium part, the playoff part.
By my unofficial count, there are still some 1.4 billion teams mathematically alive for the playoff. That deafening murmur you hear is all of them saying at once, “If we can win out from here, we’re totally in.”
It seems it’s going to be even nuttier along the way than anyone realized when expansion plans were hatched, but we’ll get there. Matter of fact, we’re right about halfway there already. And with that, a midseason catch-up and second-half preview all in one:
Team of the first half
There are some terrific 6-0 stories dotting the map — Iowa State, BYU, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Army, Navy — that have tickled imaginations and taken most everyone by surprise. But the elite championship contender that has toyed with all comers is Texas. The Longhorns won easily at Michigan and dominated Oklahoma on a neutral field. The biggest first-year SEC tests are still ahead, though.
Teams of the second half
1. Georgia: The Bulldogs already lost a September classic at Alabama and still have to go to Texas and Ole Miss and host Tennessee. Reaching the SEC title game will be an extreme uphill battle — but if them Dawgs are still them Dawgs, they’ll do it.
2. Ohio State: It’s simple, really — the Buckeyes have to win ’em all from here or else the most talented team in the country probably won’t even get into the Big Ten title game.
3. Notre Dame: The Irish had an ideal schedule laid out in front of them this season. Then, Northern Illinois came to town. If the Irish lose again — to anyone, even at USC — they’re almost certainly cooked.
Player of the first half
Through six games, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has rushed for 1,248 yards (more than 50 yards per game ahead of anyone else) and 17 touchdowns. He’s going after Barry Sanders’ records and is your Heisman Trophy leader.
Players of the second half
1. Cam Ward, QB, Miami: The Washington State transfer has carried the Hurricanes to an unbeaten start with the best numbers of any passer out there. How much magic will he make from here? The playoff, the Heisman — it’s all within reach.
2. Will Howard, QB, Ohio State: Until the Kansas State transfer wins a giant game, there will be doubts that he has it in him. Those chances are coming.
3. Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame: There might not be an offensive player who shoulders a heavier load for his team. Or one who takes more hits. If Leonard buckles, it’s “see you next year.”
Coach of the first half
Curt Cignetti, come on down and accept your pretend award. Cignetti arrived from James Madison, brought a bunch of really good players with him and has the retooled Hoosiers firing on all cylinders and looking entirely legit.
Coaches of the second half
1. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama: The Tide missed the four-team playoff only twice in 10 years under Nick Saban. If they miss a 12-teamer out of the chute under DeBoer, speculation about the premier job in the sport instantly begins.
2. Ryan Day, Ohio State: If he misses the playoff, it’s a disaster. If he loses to Michigan for the fourth time in a row, he’s out.
3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson: Everybody lined up to rip him for resisting the transfer portal. What are they going to say if and when his team is 12-1 with a first-round playoff bye?
Game of the first half
On a steamy late-September night at Alabama, Georgia trailed 28-0 early and 33-15 entering the fourth quarter before tearing off back-to-back-to-back touchdowns — the last one a 67-yarder — to edge in front with 2:31 to go. One play later, the Tide retook the lead with a 75-yard touchdown pass. The Bulldogs drove down the field but were intercepted in the end zone to end some incredible drama.
Games of the second half
1. Georgia at Texas, Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC 7): The victor moves into Week 9 as the betting favorite to win it all.
2. Ohio State at Penn State, Nov. 2: The Nittany Lions have 13-0, No. 1-playoff-seed possibilities. This one could be a total scene-shifter.
3. Oregon at Michigan, Nov. 2: We haven’t even mentioned the unbeaten Ducks. How enormous would it be for them to beat both the Buckeyes and the Wolverines in the regular season?
Playoff projections
First-round byes: No. 1 Ohio State (12-1), No. 2 Georgia (11-2), No. 3 Clemson (12-1), No. 4 Iowa State (12-1).
First-round games (campus sites): No. 12 Boise State (12-1) at No. 5 Texas (12-1); No. 11 Alabama (10-2) at No. 6 Penn State (11-1); No. 10 Tennessee (10-2) at No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1); No. 9 Miami (12-1) at No. 8 Oregon (11-2).
Quarterfinals: Oregon vs. Ohio State; Notre Dame vs. Georgia; Alabama vs. Clemson; Texas vs. Iowa State.
Semifinals: Texas vs. Ohio State; Alabama vs. Georgia.
National championship: Georgia vs. Ohio State, Jan. 20, Atlanta.