5 College Football Teams Whose CFP Hopes are Extinguished After Week 3
Grant White
Host · Writer
The College Football season continued this weekend, with several unsuspecting outcomes. Which five teams have no hope of making the College Football Playoffs?
Kansas State Wildcats
Just three short weeks ago, the Kansas State Wildcats were rife with optimism. They entered the 2025 college football season as the 17th-ranked team in the country and had a legitimate path to the College Football Playoffs. Already saddled with three losses, K-State will have to fight just to earn a bowl berth.
A three-point win versus North Dakota, as -27.5 chalk no less, is the only accomplishment the Wildcats can hang their hat on. But after another crushing loss in Week 3, Kansas State can stop pretending it has a chance.
K-State was holding out hope that it could run its conference schedule and sneak into the playoffs with an automatic berth as Big 12 champs. Those hopes have been extinguished, as the Wildcats’ season goes up in flames.
Kansas State Wildcats’ Odds to Make the CFP: N/A
Florida Gators
Leave it to the Florida Gators to come up short, yet again. While it was widely expected, the Gators dropped their SEC opener to the LSU Tigers, and in doing so, sealed their fate in the College Football Playoffs.
Scoring has been an issue for the Gators, but their biggest flaw has been their unrelenting turnovers. DJ Lagway threw five picks in Week 3, looking more unimpressive with each passing drive.
With two losses, including one to a Group of Five opponent, the Gators have gone belly up in the swamp. Maybe they can eventually rekindle their glory days, but it won’t be this season.
Florida Gators’ Odds to Make the CFP: +1260
Clemson Tigers
A season-opening loss to the LSU Tigers was the measuring stick for the Clemson Tigers early. But after narrowly avoiding defeat against Troy in Week 2 and then a conference loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday, Clemson is left recalibrating its season and setting more realistic goals.
The Tigers’ offense has looked toothless this season. Despite taking on a couple of lesser-than opponents, Clemson is averaging just 319.8 yards per game. More concerningly, that has translated to a paltry 19.3 points per game.
It’s not impossible for the Tigers to make the ACC Championship Game and potentially earn an automatic berth to the CFP, but there are too many dots that would have to connect to give them any chance of being included in the 12-team field.
Clemson Tigers’ Odds to Make the CFP: +490
South Carolina Gamecocks
Over the past couple of seasons, the South Carolina Gamecocks have been a sneaky good team. In a loaded SEC Conference, featuring a handful of top competitors, we can’t overlook their Week 3 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores.
South Carolina was out-matched on Saturday. The Gamecocks gave up 31 points and 22 first downs, while holding possession for just 24:17. LaNorris Sellers’s departure was undoubtedly a factor, but that doesn’t excuse their lackluster defensive effort.
There’s no recovering from an unranked loss. South Carolina has seven games remaining against ranked opponents. Getting four wins over that stretch is their new benchmark.
South Carolina Gamecocks’ Odds to Make the CFP: +3000
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be on the outside looking in when the CFP Committee decides on its 12-team field. An 0-2 start, even against ranked opponents, is too big a deficit to overcome.
Defense has been a blemish on Notre Dame’s early-season results. The Fighting Irish gave up nearly 500 yards of total offense to Texas A&M this weekend, while playing in front of its home faithful in South Bend. That makes it two straight games in which they’ve been out-gained by less illustrious opponents and eroded their formerly stout reputation.
With ten games remaining against mostly unremarkable opponents, Notre Dame can’t fight its way into the playoffs. It’s time to reset the defensive standard and get back on the winning track.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s National Championship Odds: +3300
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