Analysis: Upset Saturday offers CFP committee plenty to digest

Days like Saturday are why college football in November is must-watch TV.

No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Michigan, and No. 4 Washington all lost, marking the first time in over 30 years where three of the top four teams lost on the same day. These losses result in chaos for the College Football Playoff committee, which now has to sift through the wreckage that was Upset Saturday.

The team that will weather the damage the best is Clemson. Though the Tigers have been living on a prayer all season, they had gotten away with it before losing to a feisty Pittsburgh team on a last-second field goal. The Tigers only have one loss and a manageable end to the regular season. If they win out and earn the ACC championship, they should remain an appealing option for the playoff committee.

Michigan was also shell-shocked Saturday, but in the grand scheme of things the Wolverines still control their destiny. In fact, the loss may actually do more damage to rival Ohio State than it does Michigan. A stunning 14-13 loss to Iowa, where the Wolverines only gained 201 total yards, does bring up some concerns, however. If they struggled in Iowa City, what happens when they play in Columbus in a few weeks?

The last of the dominoes to fall was Washington. USC held a defensive clinic, holding the Huskies to 17 rushing yards. Washington, similar to Clemson and Michigan, controls its destiny - win out and it's a spot in the conference title game.

These three losses didn't just impact these teams, they could also shape the playoff chances for other teams just on the cusp.

The big loser on Saturday could potentially be Ohio State. Even if the Buckeyes win out, including beating Michigan, should Penn State win its final two games, the Nittany Lions win the tiebreaker and would earn the trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game. Considering how the playoff committee prefers conference champions, it would be interesting to see how it'll view a one-loss Buckeye team that didn't make it to its conference title game.

Another team right on the cusp is Louisville. The problem the Cardinals face is they would need Clemson to lose one more regular-season game. While this is possible, it is highly improbable. Compounding matters for Louisville is the fact its showdown against Houston has been downgraded some due to the Cougars struggling down the stretch. Therefore, the Cardinals must have a dominating showing in each of their last two games to really impress the committee.

Then there's Wisconsin, the nation's best two-loss team. If the Badgers win out, they'll earn a spot in the Big Ten championship game, where they might have the opportunity to avenge one of their two losses earlier in the season to Michigan or Ohio State. If the Badgers play either and win, they have an impressive resume and a league championship, putting them in prime position to possibly earn a playoff spot.

Of course, there are still two weeks of football remaining so things can change quickly. Buckle in, because if this past Saturday has been any indication, this crazy ride is just beginning.