What seemed like a ho-hum day — all of the CFP contenders won — most certainly was not.
Early during its eventual win over North Alabama, the ACC’s lone unbeaten team, Florida State, lost starting quarterback Jordan Travis in a gruesome leg injury that will almost certainly end his season. Travis’ leg twisted while being tackled. He was carted off the field and then transported away from the stadium in an ambulance.
The injury leaves the Seminoles down, arguably, their most important and experienced player with two games left before the CFP selection committee’s final rankings. The Noles (11-0) will play at Florida next week and against Louisville in the ACC championship game with an inexperienced backup.
Can they complete a run to the playoff without Travis? Even at 13-0, is FSU a real threat to contend in the playoff? The CFP committee does consider injuries when evaluating teams.
Many questions linger in what is the most significant injury blow to any CFP contender so far. And, boy, there are plenty of contenders!
There are five 11-0 Power Five teams; it’s believed to be the first time in the modern era for such a circumstance. Throw in one-loss Oregon, one-loss Alabama and one-loss Texas and suddenly, there are still eight teams alive for a playoff run.
But plenty more unfolded away from the CFP battle. James Madison took its first loss of the year (in overtime to App State), Virginia stunned coach Mike Elko and Duke, Jerry Kill and New Mexico State took down Hugh Freeze and Auburn, and UCLA coach Chip Kelly responded to rumors about his future with a rout in the Coliseum.
There was more, too. Northwestern, under recently named permanent coach David Braun, reached bowl eligibility, and off the field, Notre Dame struck an extension with TV partner NBC, continuing the Irish’s existence as an…
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