Eliminator Week 12 -- Louisville Cardinals among three teams eliminated from College Football Playoff contention

Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterNov 21, 2016, 12:00 AM ET
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- Senior college football writer
- Author of seven books on college football
- Graduate of the University of Georgia
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In the opening crawl of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, we learned that Rebel forces had stolen the blueprints of the Empire's Death Star, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.

Thanks to Princess Leia, the Rebels found a weakness in the Death Star and blew it to smithereens, restoring freedom in the galaxy. Last week, Wake Forest all but accused Louisville of stealing its plays before a 44-12 loss to the Cardinals on Nov. 8.

Thursday night, we learned Louisville's weakness in a 36-10 loss at Houston: they're not nearly as good -- and Darth Vader, er, Bobby Petrino, isn't nearly as smart -- when they're actually playing good teams.

After losing for the second time this season, the Cardinals were one of three teams eliminated from consideration for the College Football Playoff by The Eliminator this week. Utah and West Virginia -- both lost on Saturday -- also were eliminated from consideration for one of the four spots in the playoff.

With two weeks to play in the regular season, 117 of the 128 FBS teams have been eliminated, leaving 11 in contention for the four spots.

Here's where the FBS stands after Week 12:

Jump to sections: Who's in? | Still in contention | On the fence | Better luck next season | Previously eliminated

Who's in?

There wasn't nearly as much chaos this past weekend, although No. 5 Louisville made things easier for the CFP selection committee by failing to show up at Houston on Thursday night. No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Clemson still have the clearest paths to the playoff. If those teams win out, they'll be among the four teams in the playoff. If No. 2 Ohio State beats Michigan at the Horseshoe on Saturday, things might get a little tricky for the selection committee. Even if the Buckeyes knock off the Wolverines, they'll still need Penn State to lose to Michigan State to win the Big Ten East. If the Nittany Lions win the East and the Big Ten championship game, can the committee take Ohio State without taking the Nittany Lions? Probably not. Washington remains in the hunt for a playoff spot as long as it beats Washington State in Friday's Apple Cup and wins the Pac-12 championship game the next week.

Still in contention

Alabama Crimson Tide

Trending: EVEN

See Rock City? I'm surprised Alabama coach Nick Saban didn't make his team climb to Rock City at halftime of Saturday's 34-3 win over FCS foe Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Clemson Tigers

Trending: UP

Country singer Darius Rucker said he'd play a free concert at South Carolina if the Gamecocks won six games this season. If they upset Clemson on Saturday, he'll probably write a song about it.

Michigan Wolverines

Trending: EVEN

The Detroit Lions play their annual Thanksgiving Day game against the Vikings on Thursday. I'm guessing Jim Harbaugh will have them running Michigan's scout team in practice on Friday.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Trending: EVEN

Urban Meyer was born to coach the Buckeyes against Michigan in The Game. His initials are U.M.

Washington Huskies

Trending: UP

The head coaches for Friday's highly anticipated Apple Cup should have a side bet. If Washington State wins, Huskies coach Chris Petersen has to talk to the media. If Washington wins, Cougars coach Mike Leach has to stop talking to reporters.

Wisconsin Badgers

Trending: UP

Somebody pinch Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany. The No. 5 Badgers are one of three Big Ten teams ranked in the top five of the AP top 25 poll. It's the first time this has happened since Nov. 7, 1960, when Minnesota was No. 1, Ohio State was No. 3 and Iowa was No. 5.

On the fence

Colorado Buffaloes

Trending: UP

Our apologies, Buffaloes. We pulled the trigger on your elimination too early. Colorado can win the Pac-12 South if it defeats Utah at home on Saturday. If the Utes win, USC will play the Apple Cup winner in the Pac-12 championship game.

Oklahoma Sooners

Trending: UP

Of course Sooners coach Bob Stoops agrees that Oklahoma State didn't lose to Central Michigan. He needs the Cowboys to be ranked as high as possible when he beats them again.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Trending: UP

We brought you back from the dead, Pokes. No, we're not giving you 10 wins.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Trending: UP

I'm sure Penn State won't catch any flak if it wins the Big Ten East and keeps Ohio State from reaching the Big Ten championship game. Americans usually react pretty well when their side doesn't win.