VAVEL USA looks at five questions regarding the playoff, Will Muschamp, and surprises so far this season and in Week 9.
1) If you were on the playoff committee, what would be your criteria for ranking the top one loss teams?
Jack Rose: My first point of criteria would be strength of schedule and who that one loss was to. It would also have to depend on how well you do in your conference and if your conference already has a team in. Lastly would be actual talent, but that can often be a judgment call.
Caleb Wahlgren: Head to head and quality of loss. For example, Oregon and Michigan State both lost, but Oregon beat Michigan State earlier in the year. Ohio State also lost early in the year, but that was to a pathetic Virginia Tech squad. Both Oregon and Michigan State would be ahead of Ohio State.
Matthew Dixon: The most important criteria for me would be strength of schedule and who you lost to. For example, Notre Dame has a solid schedule and a quality loss (if you can call any loss quality), which would rank higher than a Michigan State team that boasts their best win as Nebraska. Yes, Oregon was a quality loss, but there are questions surrounding the Spartans on defense the last three games. Still, there is plenty of time to sort out the one-loss teams.
2) Would there be any circumstances in which you would allow two teams from one conference to participate in the College Football Playoff?
Rose: Yes. I would have no problem with two teams from the same conference, but only if those two teams are truly part of the best four. The SEC is the only conference this year that that question may apply to.
Wahlgren: Yes. This is about finding the best 4 teams. Winning your conference doesn't mean you are one of the top 4 teams. 2nd place SEC West team definitely has a chance to make it into the playoff this season, because that division is so strong.
Dixon: Make it unanimous here. The SEC looks looks particularly enticing because you have a strong Georgia team that could win the SEC Championship and four deserving teams in the SEC West, at least right now.
3) Take your best guess at the date Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp will be terminated on.
Rose: I usually don't like coaches getting fired in the middle of the year but things at Florida are pretty ugly, so Nov. 17th after they lose to South Carolina (maybe the week before if they lose to lowly Vanderbilt).
Wahlgren: December 1st. The Monday after the end of the Gators season since they will not make a bowl game again in 2014. After Florida State beats them to complete another undefeated season.
Dixon: November 2 after Georgia puts a beat 40+ point beatdown on the Gators. The better question is why was he even hired in the first place? He never fit on paper and it really calls into question Jeremy Foley's judgment as well.
4) Who is your surprise team after the first 8 weeks of the season?
Rose: Since everyone would probably say the Mississippi's (and I would not disagree), I will mention a team out of the Mountain West that is sneaking their way into the best out of the Group of Six conversation, Colorado State. The Rams are 6-1 (2-1 in conference) with their only loss coming in Boise. They have already faced all their toughest opponents and should have no problem winning out. Their team is solid across the board and is lead on offense by senior QB Garrett Grayson and stud sophomore WR Rashad Higgins who already has 10 TD's and is closing in on 1,000 yards.
Wahlgren: Ole Miss still is my surprise team. I think they are the best team in the country and I thought they had potential to do that, but beating Alabama is something that no one can ever expect with Nick Saban at the helm. That is the most impressive win at this point and it will be exciting to see how they play against Auburn and in the Egg Bowl. But they travel to death valley to face LSU this week first.
Dixon: For me, this falls to Utah. They are 5-1 and could easily be 6-0 if not for blowing a 27-14 lead in the fourth quarter to Washington State. They have road wins over Michigan (okay, not that impressive), UCLA, and Oregon State. However, they have a killer schedule with games against USC, at Arizona State, Oregon, at Stanford, and Arizona over the next five weeks. That is not an easy stretch and they could easily fall to 7-4 or 6-5 by the end of the five games.
5) Which game is most likely to produce an upset in Week 9?
Rose: I actually don't believe there will be a notable upset in Week 9. For the sake of the question I will say Oklahoma State over West Virginia is the best shot, but both teams are so evenly matched it's not really a true upset. OK State should get back in the ranking with the win.
Wahlgren: Washington State Cougars will upset the Arizona Wildcats. Mike Leach has the mighty Cougars offense as a well oiled machine now and they have come close to getting some big wins. This week will finally do the trick.
Dixon: I was oh so close to giving out Purdue last week, but Minnesota's late field goal won the game 39-38 for the Gophers. I am going to go with San Jose State (+9) over Navy this week. These two teams played a thrilling 58-52 game last year that went into Triple OT with Navy prevailing. Don't bank on that happening again. Neither team has been overly impressive this year and this game seems ripe for an upset.