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3 teams that could've made the CFP but started too late

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Combined, they're 26-0 since Oct. 1. None of them will participate in the College Football Playoff.

Here are three teams who'll watch the playoff games from the couch in agony, as they lament what could've been if not for such a perplexing loss early in the season:

Oklahoma

Final CFP ranking: No. 7

If only Oklahoma didn't open the season with such a dud. The loss to Ohio State a couple weeks later wouldn't have been the nail in the coffin had the Sooners been 2-1. Instead, they fell to 1-2 with a season-opening defeat to an eventual three-loss Houston club coming back to bite them.

As a matter of fact, the schedule set up nicely for Oklahoma down the stretch, as wins over West Virginia and Oklahoma State would've been real resume-boosters for the Big 12 champs.

USC

Final CFP ranking: No. 9

If only USC didn't cough up that fourth-quarter lead to Utah on Sept. 23. Clay Helton drew the ire of Trojans fans for his decision to punt late in the final frame, rather than attempt a fourth down, and it proved fatal in the eventual four-point loss.

USC went on to later beat the likes of Colorado, Cal, and Washington before a final week drubbing of Notre Dame. Even with two losses, USC would've had a chance to overtake Washington in the rankings and claim the fourth seed had it avoided the Utah debacle.

Penn State

Final CFP ranking: No. 5

If only James Franklin's club had emerged victorious from a Sept. 10 shootout against state rival Pitt. There's no doubt a one-loss Big Ten champion would've been good enough to crack the playoff bracket, and Penn State's loss to Michigan a couple weeks later would've eventually been offset by its win over Ohio State.

The Panthers loss proved costly, as it was the difference between Ohio State and Washington getting in, and Penn State being left out.

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