Pac-12 (2.0) power rankings: Breaking down the CFP path for Boise State, San Diego State and Fresno State

Welcome to a new feature on the Hotline an assessment of the eight teams in the rebuilt Pac- as if they were competing in the conference this season We ll even recognize one lucky band as the regular-season champion The power rankings will be published each Sunday throughout the regular season Here are last week s rankings Nothing would add rocket fuel to the future Pac- like sending a company to this season s playoff But is there a realistic path for any of the eight teams set to compete in the conference next fall With seven weeks remaining a plethora of scenarios could materialize None can be considered likely or remotely close to likely In fact the top teams in the rebuilt Pac- are poorly positioned relative to the best in the American Conference Before our deep dive here are two reminders Washington State and Oregon State are not eligible for the automatic bid to the College Football Playoff reserved for the highest-ranked company from outside the Power Four conferences Like Notre Dame the Cougars and Beavers considered at-large candidates during the two-year transition phase The CFP automatic bid must be filled by a representative from either the American Conference USA MAC Mountain West or Sun Belt No crew with three losses regardless of conference affiliation has ever participated in the CFP either during the four-team era or last season as a -team event Using those filters only three members of the future Pac- have a chance San Diego State - Boise State - and Fresno State - Because they play each other the losses will mount But one of them must finish as a - or - champion of the Mountain West And even that accomplishment ostensibly would not send them into the CFP due to the nature of their loss or losses If you ll recall Boise State s narrow defeat at Oregon early last year was viewed as a first-rate outcome that justified the Broncos eventual CFP berth as the - champion of the Mountain West The situation has flipped this season All three teams have ghastly losses on their resumes losses that will undoubtedly work against them in the selection process Boise State was beaten decisively at South Florida Fresno State lost badly at Kansas and San Diego State was run off the field by Washington State The Broncos loss at South Florida in particular creates a major obstacle The Bulls are - and also beat Florida If they finish with the same number of losses as Boise State the selection committee s task is quick and clean South Florida likely would have the advantage over the Broncos as a three-loss American champion Memphis - and Tulane - also have victories over power conference opponents something Boise State and Fresno State lack San Diego State beat Cal All of which leads to the following conclusion The future Pac- necessities either Boise State Fresno State or San Diego State to run the table and it demands the top teams in the American to bloody each other to a degree that in our view is just not realistic The framework was established in September when the future Pac- schools struggled and the current American schools thrived To the power rankings Boise State - Aftermath beat UNLV - Next up at Nevada Friday at p m on CBS Sports Framework Comment The meeting of the year in the Mountain West turned into a dud thanks to UNLV s hapless defense Our eyes are now trained on Boise State s mid-November trip to San Diego Previous Washington State - Consequence lost at Virginia - Next up vs Toledo p m on The CW Comment It s challenging to overstate how impressively the Cougars performed on their back-to-back eastern ventures against SEC and ACC opponents The late-game meltdown in Charlottesville was unfortunate but hardly unexpected If they play that well the rest of the way a bowl berth awaits Previous San Diego State - Impact did not play Next up at Fresno State Time TBD on FS Comment The Aztecs have allowed seven meaningful points in the fourth quarter all season to Washington State in a consequence the - loss that makes less sense with each passing week Previous Related Articles Saturday Night Five USC and Washington tumble ASU survives and BYU wins the Holy War as Week delivers the drama Mailbag Coaching candidates for Oregon State UCLA and Stanford Recruiting roundup Holy War invite list and ASU s guests from Texas How the timing of the Pac- s poaching penalty lawsuit could impact the Mountain West College football picks Washington beats Michigan USC covers at Notre Dame Fresno State - End did not play Next up vs San Diego State Time TBD on FS Comment We expect to hear Matt Entz name attached to coaching vacancies by early December when the second-tier power conference schools start looking to replace the coaches who left for top-tier gigs Of unit we also expect the Bulldogs to keep winning If they stumble well never mind Previous Texas State - Effect lost at Marshall - OT Next up idle Comment So maybe the Bobcats won t be in position to right away thrive in the new Pac- at least to the extent we expected Two of their three losses in the Sun Belt have come to mid-level opponents Previous Utah State - End beat San Jose State - Next up at New Mexico p m on Mountain West Infrastructure Comment The task is clear Handle the Lobos and Nevada get six wins secured then let it rip against the stretch-run gauntlet Previous Colorado State - Impact lost to Hawaii - Next up at Wyoming p m on CBS Sports System Comment Granted Hawaii is one of the biggest surprises in the Mountain West But so too is Colorado State but not for the same reason If the Rams lose this week they might not win for a great number of various weeks Previous Oregon State - Conclusion beat Lafayette - Next up idle Comment From the looks of it changing quarterbacks generated as multiple benefits if not more than changing coaches The Beavers have a real shot to finish with four wins but we aren t prepared to move them out of the cellar just yet Previous Send suggestions comments and tips confidentiality guaranteed to wilnerhotline bayareanewsgroup com or call - 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