One loss conversation continues.

There is still a lot of football left to be played but the final four picture will now be more prevalent in conversations and the playoff picture will begin to come into focus.  The focus will begin VERY blurry and will be slow to develop. 

Moving forward there will be many games that will be important to the Irish getting into one of those four spots.  The most important games are the ones that Notre Dame are playing.  If the Irish stumble and don't win the rest of their games what everyone else does will be irrelevant because a two loss Notre Dame team will be out.

For now we'll take it one week at a time.

Mississippi State won and will remain in the #1 slot.  Irish fans should either root for the Bulldogs to win out and keep that spot stable or loss two games which could happen with match ups against Alabama and Ole Miss.  A one lose Mississippi State team could edge out a one loss ND squad.

Irish fans may be looking to have Florida State win out.  If they lose fine I think the Irish could leapfrog the Seminoles, however FSU could have a legitimate argument that since they beat the Irish.  Both having one lose Florida State's win over the Irish could be seen as the tie breaker.

Ole Miss's loss to LSU may have bumped them out.  With games still on the schedule against #1 Mississippi State and #5 Auburn the Bulldogs may be the most important cog in all of these moving parts.

Alabama is a big one-loss threat to bumping our the Irish.  Although the Tide woe by 14 points over Tennessee, they may have needed a bigger statement win.   With one loss and games against high ranked teams LSU, Mississippi State Auburn they could be a #1 seed if they win out and others lose.

Auburn just got by South Carolina and has a tough road ahead with games against Texas A&M, #9 Georgia and  #4 Alabama.  Before yesterday I might have argued the Tigers are the most dangerous one-loss team now I think they are the most suspect and will lose at least one more before the season ends.

Oregon is often forgotten about playing out west and may have hoped not a lot of people watched last night as they barely got past an unranked Cal team.  Oregon still have a few teams that could trip them up but I would bet they win out if I had to.  Because the Irish have a tough schedule remaining I think a one-lose Notre Dame team edges out a one-lose Oregon team.

There are a number of one-loss teams behind the Irish in the rankings that Notre Dame fans need to keep their eye on.

If Michigan State can get by Ohio State next week Sparty has a great chance of finishing the season with one loss and would have the support of the Big Ten Conference behind them.  Their only loss is to a high ranked Oregon Ducks team giving them a good argument to get into the final four.

If Georgia wins out that means they will have beaten a top five Auburn team.  However I don't think they have enough in the win column to make a strong enough case to get in.  Their only loss was to at that time #24 South Carolina.

TCU also has a good shot at finishing with one loss but their Big 12 schedule does not have enough meet on the bone to get them in.  And yes I know they put up 82 points on Saturday against Texas Tech.

Kansas State could win out and represent the Big 12 this season.  Currently their only defeat was a 20-14 loss to #5 Auburn.

Even if they beat Michigan State Ohio State will not have any other quality wins this year to get in.  A 35-21 loss to a 4-4 Virginia Tech does not help their cause.

Note:  Marshall is and very well remain undefeated but their schedule is too weak to stand up to those top teams in one-loss group.