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Do you support a college football team? It's probably not really eligible anymore to play for the national title. I'm sorry. This is why they make side quests.
Below, we'll review the national championship status of each FBS team. It's still early, so it's still based almost as much on what's left on the schedule as it is on who's lost to whom. A team with big potential wins still to go can weather an early loss, but teams with weak schedules could already be done. Onward!
No Longer With Us
Shutdown Fullback previews Week 3!
In the cruelest act of fate in the BCS Eliminator's lengthy history, Utah State is out of the running for the national title despite springing a stellar upset on national TV. The problem: the rest of the schedule, which was supposed to include highly-ranked Wisconsin as another marquee opponent. The Badgers' downfall has dragged the Aggies down as well, and life is awful.
Teams like Western Kentucky aren't really being punished for losing to power programs. It's just that there's nothing left on their schedule that would redeem such a loss. So while the Hilltoppers' loss to Alabama means there's no national title run in the theoretical works, Michigan's loss to the same Tide doesn't rule out the hypothetically otherwise unbeaten Wolverines from a championship shot.
I also don't like Syracuse here, as the Orange have two quality losses and a very aggressive out-of-conference schedule overall. But a two-loss Big East champ in the title game? Not seein' it.
Barely Alive
After just two weeks, preseason top 10 Arkansas is already on life support. A loss to a Sun Belt team should rule out any team from title contention, but the Hogs still have Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Mississippi State and a potential SEC East champ on the schedule. Win 11 in a row, and the Hogs could be in business. No problem!
Oklahoma State almost made it last year despite an overtime loss to Iowa State. 2012 UL Monroe could end up looking about as good as 2011 Iowa State, so it's certainly not inconceivable. Now the easy part: win 11 in a row!
Two-loss Auburn is here. The SEC is as annoying as ever, and remember, we've seen a two-loss SEC champ win the whole thing before.
Still Alive
After just two weeks, 71 teams are either totally out of the running for the national title or teetering on the edge. Fewer than half the teams in the country have feasible chances, and at least half of that half is on some for-the-sake-of-argument shit. What a sport!
For the most part, one-loss SEC, Big 12 or Pac-12 teams will stick around here for a while. There's less than a guarantee for others.
Which brings us to the struggling Big Ten. Nebraska's still here, as they've got what should be a quality out-of-conference win, their loss was a competitive one on the road against a maybe good team, and they have one of the toughest Big Ten schedules still to go. We might not like it, but Nebraska's still here.
Top Five Eliminator Games, Week 3
Arkansas vs. Alabama: Usually, this list will be for games that could mean demotion for either team. Bama's not eliminated with just one loss, but Arkansas would be. And since the Razorbacks entered the year with hopes so high, their exit matters all by itself.
BYU vs. Utah: Rivalry stakes! Either the Cougars are bumped to barely-at-best status (with a decent schedule still to go), or the Utes are out of the race for good.
UL Monroe vs. Auburn: I suppose the Warhawks could join the SEC West, if they can pull off another upset here. But look for the Still Alive list of four Louisiana schools to dwindle to one or two after Week 3.
Rutgers vs. South Florida: With Arkansas going down, Rutgers no longer has the schedule to make it in with anything short of an unbeaten season. USF still has Florida State, so the Bulls could perhaps only tumble to the waiting area.
Ball State vs. Indiana: Indiana should still be alive for the national championship after a fourth of the season. Next you'll tell me there's a robot on Jupiter!
While we’re here, let’s watch some of the many fine college football videos from SB Nation’s YouTube channel:
