When a new season starts, every team is a potential College Football Playoff contender -- at least theoretically.  Now that we have reached mid-October, that list is a lot smaller.

Here are the remaining teams who I believe have a realistic chance of securing a playoff spot as we approach the second half of the season. Along with my list are SportsLine data analyst Stephen Oh's projections for each team to win the remainder of its regular-season games.

1
Alabama
A no-brainer. The Crimson Tide have been largely dominant against their schedule to this point. That schedule will get tougher as the season goes on, an annual scrimmage against an FCS team excluded, but Alabama figures to be a heavy favorite every time it takes the field from here on out. Current: 7-0 | Chances of winning out: 92.9 percent
2
Ohio St.
Another one-loss team, and that loss came at home, but the Buckeyes are also likely favorites every week down the stretch of the season. A 12-1 record against a Big Ten East schedule, along with a nonconference game against Oklahoma, should be enough to get Ohio State a place in the playoffs for the third time in four years. 6-1 | 35.9 percent
3
Clemson
I know this seems kind of high for a team that already has a loss, but like Alabama, the Tigers figure to be favored in every game the rest of the way. Clemson's schedule strength is boosted by a nonconference game against Auburn and a cross-division game at Virginia Tech. 6-1 | 24.9 percent
4
Wisconsin
To me, the Badgers have the best chance among the remaining major undefeated teams -- besides Alabama -- to finish that way, which says a lot about their schedule. You can reasonably argue that the Badgers' toughest opponent to this point has been 3-3 Purdue, which they beat 17-9 last week. Wisconsin will get Michigan at home and the East champion in the Big Ten title game. Their toughest road opponent is either Nebraska or Minnesota. With that schedule, undefeated is the only way the Badgers make the playoff. 6-0 | 5.9 percent
5
TCU
The Frogs also have a decent chance of finishing undefeated. TCU still has to go to Oklahoma and will likely have a rematch with the Bedlam winner in the returning Big 12 title game. The win at Oklahoma State gives you reason to believe they can win at OU. That and the Sooners loss at home to Iowa State. 6-0 | 8.4 percent
6
Penn St.
The Nittany Lions have been dominant at home where they will face Michigan this Saturday. After that will come back-to-back road games at Ohio State and Michigan State. If PSU survives those three weeks unscathed, it will shoot to No. 2 on this list. 6-0 | 22.6 percent
7
Georgia
The Bulldogs are undefeated and the No. 3 team in the polls, but they have two games left in which they may very well be underdogs. They will travel to Auburn on Nov. 11 and most likely an SEC Championship Game against Alabama. Georgia could be the third-best team in the country and still lose both of those games. A win at Auburn changes their chances of making the playoff dramatically. A 12-1 record with only a loss to Alabama may be enough to get in the field. 7-0 | 15.6 percent
8
Miami (Fla.)
The Hurricanes have been playing with fire lately, but they have yet to get burned. They have a couple of tough games left with Notre Dame and Virginia Tech, but they are both at home. Oh, and there is that little matter of the ACC title game, likely against Clemson. 5-0 | 11.6 percent
9
USC
The Trojans go to Notre Dame this week in what is their toughest game left in the regular season. A win does not mean they can go into cruise control, though. Like all one-loss teams, USC has no margin for error left. 6-1 | 13.1 percent
10
Oklahoma St.
The Cowboys lost at home to TCU and do not have a big nonconference win, but they do get Oklahoma at home and, if they win that, likely another shot at the Frogs in the Big 12 title game. 5-1 | 11.2 percent
11
Oklahoma
A huge win in Columbus early in the season seems mitigated now by a loss at home to Iowa State. Now, the Sooners have to win at Oklahoma State and a Big 12 title game to try to make their case for the playoff. It would help tremendously if the Cyclones can keep winning. 5-1 | 8.9 percent
12
Notre Dame
An early-season loss at home to Georgia is the only blemish for the Irish so far, but the meat of their schedule lies ahead. They have USC and NC State at home and road trips to Miami and Stanford. 5-1 | 9.0 percent
13
Washington
The Huskies' chances are reduced because they played their usual ugly nonconference schedule. They also have a loss to Arizona State, which will do well to finish .500. It is going to be hard for UW to impress the committee as a one-loss team. 6-1 | 28.6 percent
14
Michigan St.
The Spartans got smoked at home by Notre Dame but followed that up with wins over Iowa and at Michigan. They will still have to win at Ohio State and beat Penn State at home to have a playoff chance, but I doubt they will be favored in either game. 5-1 | 1.2 percent