Can Washington State Reach the College Football Playoff?

On By Littum

game

Washington State has quietly been one of the most successful teams in college football this season and has a solid chance to finish the season with an 11-1 record.

But coach Jake Dickert and the Cougars Do you have a chance to make the first 12-team College Football Playoff?

REQUIRED READING: Georgia remains part of the College Football Playoff bracket projection despite losses

No. 18 Washington State (8-1), also tabbed as no. 18 in the latest CFP rankings, have remaining games against New Mexico, Oregon State and Wyoming, in which each must be favored. That would put the Cougars as a one-loss team with a shot at an at-large bid, though it won’t qualify for an automatic conference championship-winning bid since the Pac-12 has just two teams.

Although it needs some help, Washington State can certainly sneak into the 12-team CFP this season. It will hope to reach the CFP and make some noise, led by its high-powered offense led by offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer.

Here’s a look at Washington State’s chances to reach the College Football Playoff in 2024:

Can the state of Washington be included in the common fisheries policy?

The short answer is yes, Washington State can indeed make the College Football Playoff this season, but it will definitely need some losses ahead of it in the rankings for a spot.

Cougars no. 18 (8-1) does not have the luxury of a conference championship win that results in automatic qualification, as the Pac-12 does not count in the CFP’s bid method since the conference has only two teams in 2024 The top five conference champions, regardless of they are Power Four or Group of Five, will automatically qualify for the CFP.

That means Washington State must rely on an at-large bid, which goes to teams already ranked in the top 12 of the final CFP teams, assuming one of the conference champions that gets an automatic bid isn’t already out for the top 12.

The Cougars almost certainly need to win out, which they have a solid chance to do, as their remaining schedule includes New Mexico, Oregon State and Wyoming.

A scenario that would help Washington State would be for Boise State to win and rise above the No. 12 in the CFP rankings, so the last seed of the bracket would be released, giving Washington State more wiggle room for a potential berth as the last team in. Right now, Boise State is the fifth-highest ranked team projected to win a conference championship.

Another factor playing against Washington State is its weak strength of schedule, as the Cougars have played an interim conference slate that includes mostly Mountain West teams due to a deal in response to the Pac-12’s lack of programs.

According to ESPN’s CFP Prediction, Washington State has a 7% chance to make the league, with an 83% chance to beat New Mexico, a 70% chance to beat Oregon State and a 93% chance to beat Wyoming to end its regular season.

Does the Pac-12 have a conference championship game?

There will not be a Pac-12 Championship game in 2024, as Washington State and Oregon State are the only two programs in the conference.

The Pac-12 also does not qualify as part of the CFP’s potential automatic bid for conference championship winners, as the league does not meet the CFP’s eight-team requirement. However, the Pac-12 could regain potential automatic qualifier status in 2026 when the conference must add Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State, with the conference looking for other programs to reach at least eight.

Washington State football 2024 schedule

Here’s a look at Washington State’s 2024 football schedule:

All times eastern.

  • Saturday 31 August: vs. Portland State (W, 70-30)
  • Saturday 7 September: vs. Texas Tech (37-16)
  • Saturday 14 September: in Washington (W, 24-19)
  • Friday, September 20: vs. San Diego State (W, 54-52)
  • Saturday 28 September: at Boise State (L, 45-24)
  • Saturday 5 October: CITY
  • Saturday 12 October: at Fresno State (W, 25-17)
  • Saturday 19 October: vs. Hawaii (W, 42-10)
  • Saturday 26 Oct: at San Diego State (W, 29-26)
  • Saturday 2 November: CITY
  • Saturday 9 November: vs. Utah State (W, 49-28)
  • Saturday 16 November: in New Mexico State | 21:30
  • Saturday 23 November: at Oregon State* | 19.00
  • Saturday 30 November: vs. Wyoming | 18:30
  • Record: 8-1

*Denotes Pac-12 games