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The College Football Playoff picture barely shifted over the weekend, yet a handful of results carried outsized consequences: the first conference was effectively removed from CFP contention and multiple Power Five programs saw their national-title hopes end. Here’s a conference-by-conference look at where teams stand after Week 5.
College Football Playoff field after Week 5
The Eliminator rounds through the season’s results and trims the list of realistic CFP candidates. After Week 5, there are no guaranteed locks — and many teams still have only a mathematical path forward.
Playoff locks
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Week 5 ends one conference’s hopes for the College Football Playoff
Zero teams — no program can be classified as an automatic playoff lock at this point.
Alive for a CFP bid
73 teams, roughly 53% of FBS, retain at least a theoretical chance at an at-large CFP berth. Those teams are spread across conferences, with the following distribution:
- ACC (11), Big 12 (14), Big Ten (13), SEC (14), Independent (1), American (7), Conference USA (0), MAC (3), Mountain West (3), Pac-12 (3), Sun Belt (4)
Several high-profile programs improved resumes this weekend, while only a few suffered losses that instantly knocked them from national-title consideration.
Teams eliminated after Week 5
Notable programs whose CFP chances are gone after Week 5 include Colorado, TCU, Illinois, Michigan State, Arkansas, Army, Delaware, Colorado State, Texas State and Marshall.
Out of the playoff chase
In total, 65 teams — about 47% of FBS — are effectively out of CFP contention. That group is concentrated among many mid-major conferences and includes a mix of programs that struggled early and those that can no longer assemble the résumé a committee would consider.
ACC
Alive: Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Miami, NC State, North Carolina, Pitt, SMU, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
The ACC slate produced the kind of messy outcomes the league is known for. Virginia Tech’s loss in a contentious game and Pitt’s injury issues add complications, but multiple teams remain in the race for the conference title. Miami’s form has set a clear standard in the league this season.
Eliminated: California, Louisville
Cal’s defeat to UNLV was a severe setback under new coach Tosh Lupoi, and Louisville’s unexpected loss to NC State removes the Cardinals from CFP at-large discussions.
Out: Boston College, Georgia Tech, Stanford, Syracuse
Big 12
Alive: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, UCF, Utah, West Virginia
The Big 12 saw its first teams dropped from CFP contention this week, but more than half the conference still has zero or one conference loss. Baylor’s win over Arizona State, and a 2–0 start in league play, has quieted some scrutiny of the program and moved the Bears into the conversation.
Eliminated: Colorado, TCU
Colorado has been inconsistent, and TCU’s offensive struggles — just 23 points across two Big 12 losses — raise questions about the Horned Frogs’ ability to navigate a difficult remaining schedule.
Out: None
Big Ten
Alive: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, USC, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin
Iowa’s first loss at home will sting Hawkeye fans, but the conference still contains several plausible CFP candidates, especially with the Big Ten West producing more competitive teams than in recent years.
Eliminated: Illinois, Michigan State
Illinois has endured a turbulent stretch, including a coordinator change and a surprise loss to Purdue. Michigan State also finds itself in need of a turnaround to salvage the season.
Out: Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers
SEC
Alive: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
The SEC remains crowded at the top. Alabama, Georgia and Texas look like national-title contenders, but a large cluster of one‑loss teams behind them will make the conference picture messy as the season unfolds.
Eliminated: Arkansas
Arkansas’ loss to Tennessee and Texas A&M’s offensive issues continue to create volatility in the league standings.
Out: South Carolina
Independents
Alive: Notre Dame
Notre Dame managed a win in difficult, rainy conditions thanks to timely play from CJ Carr. A key upcoming road test in Provo will help clarify how strong this Irish team is.
Eliminated: None
Out: UConn
American
Alive: Florida Atlantic, Memphis, North Texas, South Florida, Tulane, Tulsa, UTSA
FAU has quietly built a profile to watch: at 4–1 with its only loss to Florida, the Owls’ offense has looked sharper in recent weeks. A strong November stretch could elevate their Group of Five case.
Eliminated: Army
Army’s one-score loss to Louisiana Tech dropped the Black Knights to .500 and removed them from Group of Six consideration.
Out: Charlotte, East Carolina, Navy, Rice, Temple, UAB
Conference USA
Alive: None
Conference USA became the first full league this season with no teams left in CFP contention after Delaware’s loss to Liberty. That result extinguished any lingering hopes for the conference on the national stage.
Eliminated: Delaware
Out: Florida International, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, Western Kentucky
MAC
Alive: Toledo, UMass, Western Michigan
UMass’s unbeaten run was halted by Eastern Michigan in an outcome few expected. The MAC landscape continues to shift week to week.
Eliminated: None
Out: Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Sacramento State
Mountain West
Alive: Air Force, New Mexico, North Dakota State
All eyes are on an upcoming Oct. 24 showdown when North Dakota State visits New Mexico — a game that could define the conference pecking order. Air Force remains a disruptive presence after its win over Navy.
Eliminated: None
Out: Hawai‘i, Nevada, Northern Illinois, San José State, UNLV, UTEP, Wyoming
Pac-12
Alive: Boise State, Fresno State, Oregon State
Oregon State has emerged as one of the season’s turnaround stories, while Boise State still projects as the conference leader. The Pac-12 looks more contested than some expected.
Eliminated: Colorado State, Texas State
Both programs suffered damaging losses that remove them from Group of Six contention.
Out: San Diego State, Utah State, Washington State
Sun Belt
Alive: Appalachian State, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana
The Sun Belt is quietly deep. Georgia State and Louisiana have produced strong starts and could challenge James Madison for conference supremacy as the season progresses.
Eliminated: Marshall
Marshall’s loss to James Madison ended the Herd’s slim CFP hopes and sets up a pivotal October stretch that will determine whether a bowl remains realistic.
Out: Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Troy
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