Vanderbilt football off week CFP rooting guide, who can help Commodores' playoff hopes

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Vanderbilt football can still make the College Football Playoff, but the Commodores may not control their own destiny.

Sitting at No. 14 in the CFP rankings, Vanderbilt (8-2, 4-2 SEC) must at minimum win remaining games against Kentucky (4-5, 2-5) on Nov. 22 and at Tennessee (6-3, 3-3) on Nov. 29, which will occur after having this week off. But because the Commodores don’t currently have a win against a team ranked in the top 25 by the playoff committee, they are vulnerable.

With no Vanderbilt game this weekend, here are the results fans should root for on Nov. 15:

Most important

Pittsburgh over Notre Dame (11 a.m. CT, ABC)

Two-loss Notre Dame is ranked ahead of Vanderbilt in the College Football Playoff rankings and likely will continue to be if it keeps winning. The Irish losing a third game, however, would open up a spot for the Commodores. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh isn’t much of a threat to bump Vanderbilt even with a win. The Panthers were ranked No. 22 in the CFP rankings this week.

Alabama over Oklahoma (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC)

Two-loss Oklahoma is currently ranked ahead of two-loss Vanderbilt, and that would be unlikely to change if the Sooners add a win over Alabama. Instead, the Commodores need Oklahoma to pick up a third loss.

Georgia over Texas (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC)

Similar to Alabama and Oklahoma, this matchup pits a near-certain playoff team against a two-loss team currently ranked ahead of Vanderbilt. If Texas finishes with two losses, it will almost certainly be ranked ahead of the Commodores due to a head-to-head win. Thus, Vanderbilt needs the Longhorns to get a third loss.

Somewhat important

Texas Tech over UCF (2:30 p.m. CT, FOX)

One team is going to win the Big 12 and get an automatic bid. Vanderbilt fans should root for that team to be Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are the most likely Big 12 team to get in as an at-large if they fail to win the conference due to a win over BYU and the fact that its lone loss came without its starting quarterback.

Would a Texas Tech team with a second loss be ranked ahead of two-loss Vanderbilt? Perhaps not, but Commodores fans should root for the Red Raiders to make and win the Big 12 championship game so that doesn’t become a question.

Iowa over USC (2:30 p.m. CT, BTN)

USC is ranked below Vanderbilt right now at No. 17, but the Trojans have upcoming games against Iowa and Oregon. Should they manage to win both, there’s a good chance they would leapfrog the Commodores due to Vanderbilt’s lack of ranked wins. A three-loss USC, on the other hand, would almost certainly not be a threat to a two-loss Vanderbilt. The Trojans only need to lose one of their two upcoming games, but an Iowa loss would make breathing a bit easier.

Baylor over Utah (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2)

This one may not end up mattering. Though Utah is ranked ahead of Vanderbilt right now, the Commodores have the chance to add a win over Tennessee, which is better than anything the Utes would have. But if Utah wins out and BYU and Cincinnati each pick up an additional loss, the Utes would make the Big 12 Championship Game. That would threaten Vanderbilt’s standing.

TCU over BYU (9:15 p.m. CT, ESPN)

BYU, ranked No. 12 in the CFP rankings, needs to pick up a second loss to drop below Vanderbilt, even after a blowout at the hands of Texas Tech. A loss in the Big 12 championship game might do the trick, but last year teams were penalized less for conference championship losses than regular-season ones. Another loss for the Cougars would feel more safe.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football College Football Playoff rooting guide for Week 12

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