Could a 1-Loss Wisconsin Badger Team Make the CFP?

Wisconsin Badger football looks to move to 13-0 and win the Big Ten title on Saturday evening. But could a 12-1 Badger team still crash the College Football Playoff (CFP)?

The Wisconsin Badger path is the same as it was in early August. Frankly, the same for every NCAA football team.

Just win your games and you’ll get into the CFP? That remains true in December. If Wisconsin Badger football wins the Big Ten title they’re in the CFP.

But for this exercise we’re considering a scenario in which a 12-1 Badger team still sneaks into the CFP. Namely, can Wisconsin lose to the Buckeyes on Saturday and still be in the top four?

Wisconsin Badgers Football

Yes, but as you’d imagine it requires considerable help around the other conference championship games. It would also require a competitive loss.

So here’s how the only way I think Wisconsin Badger football could lose to The Ohio State and still make the CFP.

A tight likely overtime loss which perhaps swings wildly on a controversial officiating decision. Keep in mind, these two played last year in Madison and The Ohio State won in OT.

In addition, Wisconsin would need Georgia to rout Auburn giving the Tigers a third loss and making Alabama look worse. The Badgers would also need TCU to upset Oklahoma and Clemson to destroy Miami.

That way the Hurricanes pick up a second loss as does Oklahoma. That would eliminate Miami and make the Sooners less desirable.

In this royal straight flush of a draw, the Pac-12, Big-12, and Big Ten would all have two-loss champions. The sticking point here is probably the Sooners or TCU who could jump in.

But I’m giving the CFP Committee an out by skipping the Pac-12 and Big-12 and instead essentially calling the Big Ten title game inconclusive.

In this multiple lightning strike scenario, the CFP would take Clemson, Georgia, along with the Badgers and Buckeyes. Leaving out Alabama and the Big 12 would generate the most controversy.

For starters, lets be clear, the CFP would end up taking the Badgers and Buckeyes. I don’t see a way a 1-loss Badger team eclipses The Ohio State. You’d see Wisconsin at best the #4 and The Ohio State likely #3.

Next: Wisconsin Football Grading the Badgers against Gophers

As we saw last year, the CFP is comfortable picking a tam that didn’t win its conference title. After all, The Ohio State didn’t play in the Big Ten Championship game and still made the CFP last season. Is this path likely or the simplest? Of course not. But this is the internet and it’s still a possibility however remote.