15 teams that could throw a wrench in the College Football Playoff

No, Auburn will not likely be making an appearance in the College Football Playoff, but they could impact who does. The Tigers' final two games are against Texas A&M and Alabama -- two teams who have designs on a national championship. Auburn has won five of their last seven against A&M and have won two of the last three against Alabama. Auburn plays spoiler with the best of them and that may be their role in 2020.

BYU has been feasting on a schedule that may not have top tier names, but are some solid opponents. The Cougars have one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country in Zach Wilson and one of the most physical teams in the nation. BYU's biggest game will be at Boise State coming up with a win likely leading to a 10-0 season. While it is doubtful that will be enough to get in to the College Football Playoff, if enough crazy things happen to Power 5 schools then they could be a darkhorse. Head coach Kelani Sitake is a frontrunner for national coach of the year.

The Bearcats blasted SMU in one of the biggest wins the program has had in some time. Cincinnati has one of the best defenses in the nation while quarterback Desmond Ridder is starting to find his groove. The 'Cats are undefeated and rising up the polls. There are some tests remaining on their schedule, but the Bearcats currently feel like the best Group of Five teams.

The Gators do have a loss at Texas A&M already and have won just two games all season, but there are plenty of opportunities for the Gators to get back in the playoff conversation. The biggest opportunity is their rivalry game against Georgia in Jacksonville on November 7th. A win there gives Florida the tiebreaker and the inside track to a division title and a shot at (likely) Alabama in the SEC championship. Win out and win that and there's no way the Gators won't make the playoff.

The Hoosiers already threw a wrench in Penn State's quest for a national championship and they have three other schools on their schedule that Indiana could spoil their dreams as well. Indiana hosts Michigan in a couple of weeks; two weeks later play at Ohio State and two weeks later play at Wisconsin. Three tough games and it would be a lot to expect the improving Hoosiers to win all of them ... but it isn't out of the realm of possibility for them to knock one or two of them off.

Can a team that lost to Arkansas State really make it to the College Football Playoff? Maybe, and Kansas State could be the team to pull it off. After a stunning loss to the Red Wolves in the opener, the Wildcats went to Norman and toppled Oklahoma. They are staring down a key stretch where they play at West Virginia, host Oklahoma State, at Iowa State and Baylor before hosting Texas in the finale. K-State needs to run that out and then win the Big 12 title game for even a sliver of a shot. Even if Kansas State can't win out, they could end playoff dreams for Oklahoma State. 

Sure, the Hurricanes laid an egg against Clemson a few weeks ago but that doesn't necessarily take them out of the national title picture. Miami still plays NC State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina which can beef up their resume and could put them in position to get a rematch with Clemson in the ACC championship game. D'Eriq King and Cam'Ron Harris are big time players who could get the 'Canes offense rolling. 

The Wolverines got off to a great start by pounding Minnesota up in Minneapolis. If Michigan goes undefeated this season, they will have beaten Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State ... as well as win the Big Ten title game. That resume would challenge for the best in the nation. Joe Milton is a nice dual threat quarterback that has two emerging backs in Hassan Haskins and Zach Charbonnet.

North Carolina followed up its stunning loss to Florida State by thrashing rival NC State. Despite the loss to the Seminoles, the Heels still can find their way back into the playoff hunt. Carolina hosts Notre Dame on Thanksgiving weekend and then travels to Miami the following week. Beating those two teams likely ends those schools' playoff hopes and puts the Heels in the ACC title game against Clemson. Win that and there's a strong case for UNC in the final four. 

Remember the Pac 12? The league doesn't start for another couple of weeks but they can find a way for one of their teams to make a run at a playoff spot. Oregon enters the season as the favorite and a schedule that could see them easily win the North division. That is a blessing and a curse as the Ducks may not play a ranked team until they play in the Pac 12 title game, and even then the South division champ may be unranked as well. Typically, a 7-0 record against a soft schedule doesn't scream "playoff team" but this isn't a typical season. 

While Penn State's loss to Indiana was heartbreaking, it may not end their championship hopes. It was a loss on the road to an improved program by an inch in overtime. Penn State hosts Ohio State next and will play at Michigan later in the season. They are good enough to win those games and can win the Big Ten title which certainly would put them in the mix to get one of those playoff spots. 

Texas A&M currently sits in the top ten in the rankings with their lone loss coming at Alabama. There is a scenario where the Aggies win the rest of their games (which include beating Tennessee, LSU and Auburn) and finish second to the Tide in the SEC West division. While the Tide play in the SEC title game, A&M sits tight with a 9-1 record, a win over Florida and possibly a top five ranking. If two SEC teams get into the playoff, the Aggies could be one of those teams.  

Like Oregon, USC's season hasn't started yet which puts the Trojans at a bit of a disadvantage to make a playoff run. Still, if they can show that their offense can be as potent as it was to end last season and blow through the South Division, then they can turn some heads. Again, a Pac 12 school must win all seven games they play and, for the most part, do so convincingly to nab a playoff berth. USC can pull that off.

There's no way Wake Forest will challenge for the ACC title ... let alone a playoff spot ... but they play a couple of other teams on this list. The Deacs travel down the road to North Carolina in a few weeks before hosting Miami and Notre Dame after Thanksgiving. Virginia Tech fancied themselves as a team that could make a run in the ACC until Wake thumped them, 23-16. Can Wake end other title teams' dreams?

Wisconsin has entered the post-Jonathan Taylor era with a bang -- spanking Illinois in their season opener, 45-7. Graham Mertz, one of the biggest recruiting gets in program history, looked the part in the win over the Illini. The Badgers host Minnesota this year but does travel to Michigan, Iowa and Nebraska which gives them a stout schedule to navigate before a possible spot in the Big Ten title game. Once there, Wisconsin would likely get Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan again and a chance to win their way to their first playoff spot.