Ranking College Football’s Top 8 3-Loss Teams | CFB Shortlist

8) Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3)

Illinois is another squad that went through a tough stretch. Nonetheless, the Fighting Illini have stacked wins over the last couple of weeks and now find themselves at No. 23 in the most recent CFP rankings. Regardless of the postseason, they've been impressive throughout the season.

Odds to Make the CFP:

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2) South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3)

The Gamecocks went through a rough stretch during the season, losing heartbreaking games against LSU, Alabama, and Ole Miss before Shane Beamer's squad flipped the script. Since their loss to the Rebels, the Gamecocks have turned the corner and enter Week 14 as one of the hottest teams in the SEC and the nation. South Carolina has won five straight games (three against Top 25 teams) and has a chance to upset their in-state rivals in Clemson to give them a shot at making the postseason.

Odds to Make the CFP: South Carolina +540

3) Alabama Crimson Tide (8-3)

Alabama is coming off arguably its worst loss of the year: a three-touchdown loss on the road against an Oklahoma team that had lost four of its last five games before its matchup against the Crimson Tide. The talent has been there all season long for Bama, but its inconsistencies continue to get in its way. Now, it'll need help to get into the postseason if it can get past Auburn, which is coming off an upset win over Texas A&M.

Odds to Make the CFP: Alabama +198

4) Texas A&M Aggies (8-3)

Texas A&M is another team fresh off a horrid loss in Week 13 after falling to an unranked Auburn team. Despite that, the Aggies still have a slim path to the CFP if they can find a way to upset No. 3 Texas during rivalry week. If they can protect Kyle Field, they'll earn a spot in the SEC Championship, where they could stumble into the postseason. And while that sounds like a fairy tale ending for their season, the odds are stacked against them.

Odds to Make the CFP: Texas A&M +710

5) Missouri Tigers (8-3)

The Missouri Tigers entered this season with high expectations after an impressive year in 2023. However, Eli Drinkwitz's squad has had a lackluster year, at least to the standards set upon them from the jump. Regardless, the Tigers have a chance to end the regular season as a 9-win team, and that alone should be labeled a success in a loaded SEC Conference.

Odds to Make the CFP: Missouri +2800

6) Colorado Buffaloes

Colorado struggled through the first half of the season, but Deion Sanders put his squad in position to make a strong push toward the back half of the year. Entering their matchup in Week 13 against Kansas, the Buffaloes seemed to be in an excellent spot to clinch a place in the CFP if they could win the Big 12 Championship. However, after the loss, it's a tall task for a Colorado team that can't get out of their own way.

Odds to Make the CFP: Colorado +650

7) Kansas State Wildcats

At one point, the Wildcats were one of the last remaining undefeated teams before entering a rough patch in the middle of the season. Despite that, Kansas State has stayed the course, and after stacking up a couple of wins, they found themselves in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings. Although they have a slim chance to make the postseason, an 8-3 record after losing their starting quarterback in the offseason is a win on its own.

Odds to Win the Big 12 Championship: Kansas State +12000

8) Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3)

Illinois is another squad that went through a tough stretch. Nonetheless, the Fighting Illini have stacked wins over the last couple of weeks and now find themselves at No. 23 in the most recent CFP rankings. Regardless of the postseason, they've been impressive throughout the season.

Odds to Make the CFP:

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