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http://bit.ly/2fiqNZi";>An October loss to Washington at home all but extinguished Utah's hopes of going to the College Football Playoff this season.
Or did it?
Chaos in college football has helped 8-2 Utah http://www.collegefootballplayoff.com/content/ranking/2016";>reach No. 12 in the CFP poll, which isn't prime position for a two-loss team, but is surely within striking distance of the almighty top four.
What are the chances that Utah can actually make it to the playoff this year? Not good, but not non-existent. Here's a few outlets' looks at what path Utah could have to getting in the playoffs:
• http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/college-football-rankings-top-25-poll-playoff-alabama-ohio-state-michigan-week-11-recap-mandel-111416";>Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel projects the Utes as a "Still needs help" team alongside Colorado (10) and Washington State (22). While not in the "Still needs a miracle" category of three-loss USC (13), he said it is unlikely that any two-loss Pac-12 champion would make the playoff over 11-1 Louisville (5).
• http://uproxx.com/sports/college-football-playoff-scenarios-predictions-2016/4/";>Matt Hinton of Uproxx projects Utah as having the 11th-best odds of getting in along with Colorado and Washington State. Calling on specific game results, he projects that Utah would need to win out, would need both Clemson (4) and Louisville to take losses, then would need Oklahoma (9) and West Virginia (14) to take losses. He's currently expecting Washington (6) to win out.
• Not a projection, but http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ranking-the-week-12-college-football-games-that-will-impact-the-playoff-race/";>CBS Sports has a list of important games to track for playoff purposes, starting with Wazzu's game at Colorado this weekend. With Washington State and Colorado both as longshots, each is looking for a marquee win. With the Sooners going against the Mountaineers and Louisville taking on Houston, there's still some players above Utah who could take losses this week and help elevate the Utes into the top 10.
•http://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/106256/pac-12-playoff-tracker-conference-is-still-alive";> ESPN's Pac-12 blog points out that Utah should be rooting for Washington and Colorado to win this week to elevate their future opponents and set their schedule up for big wins. Two top-10 wins to close the season could be a powerful statement on a postseason resume.
Will Utah be playing in the Playoff this year? The odds are stacked against them. Probably not. But it's not completely out of the realm of possibility if Utah can capture a Pac-12 title.
Here's some other bowl projections:
• http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/11/16/bowl-projections-college-football-playoff-ohio-state-washington/93948698/";>USA Today has Utah playing Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl (Jan. 2).
• http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/bowls/predictions";>CBS Sports slots Utah into the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin.
• http://www.si.com/college-football/2016/11/15/bowl-projections-college-football-playoff-predictions";>Sports Illustrated sends Utah to the Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) against West Virginia.
• http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/gallery/college-football-cfb-bowl-projections-schedule-dates-alabama-michigan-ohio-state-texas-week-11-mandel-111516";>FOX Sports sees Utah in the Foster Farms Bowl (Dec. 28) with Indiana.
• http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/11/13/13613320/bowl-games-projections-2016-college-football-playoff-predictions";>SB Nation has Utah matched up with Indiana in the Foster Farms Bowl.
• http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/16/college-hotline-pac-12-bowl-projections-plus-washingtons-playoff-chances-and-uscs-shot-at-the-new-years-six/";>College Hotline's Jon Wilner predicts Utah will end up in the Foster Farms Bowl.
• http://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/106231/pac-12-week-11-bowl-projections-washington-remains-strong-cfp-candidate";>ESPN's Pac-12 blog also guesses Utah will wind up in the FFB.
I'll wrap by quoting Wilner here: " Not sure any team in the conference has a wider range of possible landing spots."
He's got a point.
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon