The only two things predictable about this college football season are Alabama and upheaval. Parity reigns. Unpredictability is a constant.

Over the past three weeks, seven top-10 teams have fallen. This past weekend alone, previously undefeated teams Clemson, Washington and Washington State all lost, losing to the likes of Syracuse, Arizona State and California, three teams that are a combined two games over .500. The week before, Oklahoma fell to Iowa State and Michigan lost to bitter in-state rival Michigan State, considered the fourth-best team in the Big Ten East.

The topsy-turvy nature of the season, specifically of late, has completely opened up many interesting possibilities for the College Football Playoff.

Here are the three biggest:

Notre Dame: The Irish have been mostly forgotten since a one-point home loss to Georgia on Sept. 10, a defeat that looks far better now that the undefeated Bulldogs have emerged as a title contender. Notre Dame already has defeated Big Ten East foe Michigan State, has a Saturday night prime-time showdown with USC this weekend and still has four other ranked teams, led by undefeated Miami, on its schedule. Win out and coach Brian Kelly’s team, which is fifth in the country in rushing yards (308 yards per game) and 15th in points allowed (16.8), has a legitimate case for itself.

Two-bid conferences: The SEC has the best odds, with Alabama and Georgia both undefeated and steamrolling the rest of the pedestrian conference. The Crimson Tide still have to get through Auburn in the Iron Bowl over Thanksgiving weekend, but that’s the only thing standing in their way of another perfect regular season. Georgia, meanwhile, has a quality non-conference victory over Notre Dame and should be able to reach the SEC title game unscathed, barring a slip-up against Auburn or ACC rival Georgia Tech on Nov. 25. It’s hard to see one of these two getting left out if they meet in Atlanta both undefeated.

But the SEC isn’t the only conference with two-bid possibilities. There also is the Big Ten, which has the most playoff contenders: undefeated teams Penn State and Wisconsin and one-loss programs Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State. While Wisconsin’s schedule has been incredibly soft so far — the Badgers have yet to face a team with a winning record — it does host Michigan on Nov. 18 and would meet the Big Ten East champion in the conference title game, providing two opportunities for marquee wins. As would be the case with the SEC, if Penn State and Wisconsin both meet for conference supremacy undefeated, both could find themselves in the playoff. There even could be an argument if the Big Ten East champion is Ohio State, whose one loss came to Big 12 power Oklahoma.

Two-loss team: It has yet to happen in the three years of the playoff, a two-loss team getting selected, but this seems like the season for it. Let’s say Ohio State has two losses but wins the Big Ten championship, would the Buckeyes really be passed over? Or USC falls to Notre Dame this weekend but wins the PAC-12? The Trojans would have losses to a pair of top-25 teams in the Irish and Washington State. Another possibility is Oklahoma dropping another Big 12 contest but rallying to get to the title game and knocking off TCU. That, combined with the non-conference win at Ohio State, would create a strong résumé.

No guts, no glory

Bravo, Kyle Whittingham.

Hopefully, coaches were paying attention to his gutsy decision late Saturday night in Southern California and more will coach to win rather than not to lose. With 42 seconds remaining and Utah trailing USC by a point, the Utes head coach went for the win, opting to attempt a two-point conversion.

His players didn’t convert — quarterback Troy Williams was stopped on a keeper — but it remained the right move. USC had found its rhythm after a poor first half, scoring touchdowns on three of its four previous possessions. Utah’s best chance to win the game was at that precise moment. If the game went into overtime, it was likely a loss. Had Utah opted for the extra point and the tie, the Trojans still had time to win it in regulation.

You can be sure Utah’s players loved their coach going for the win. I’m sure recruits will notice the daring move, too.

Orange you glad …

The upset of Clemson was a monster victory for second-year Syracuse coach Dino Babers, the kind of win that can turn around a program by garnering national headlines and attracting recruits. But the performance shouldn’t be that shocking when you consider the Orange nearly won at LSU and N.C. State, too. Babers clearly has this program headed in the right direction, already with as many wins (four) as he had in his first season and a dynamic quarterback in junior Eric Dungey capable of putting up points against anyone.

Top 10

1. Alabama (7-0) (Last week: 1)

While the nation’s other premier teams are getting upset, Alabama continues to avoid such letdowns, winning Saturday for the sixth time by at least three scores.

2. Penn State (6-0) (3)

Dessert is finally over in Happy Valley. After six weeks of cupcakes, Penn State finally gets a few litmus tests, games against Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State over the next three weeks.

3. TCU (6-0) (4)

The Horned Frogs defense responded after three consecutive so-so performances, holding Kansas State to six points — 30 below its season average — in a commanding road win.

4. Georgia (7-0) (6)

The Bulldogs’ second-ranked defense had an off night, but it hardly mattered as the offense set a school record against an SEC foe with 696 yards of total offense in a 53-28 decimation of Missouri.

5. Clemson (6-1) (2)

The Tigers only managing 10 second-half points without quarterback Kelly Bryant (concussion) wasn’t the reason for Friday’s upset loss to Syracuse. The previously untouchable defense allowing a season-high 440 yards of total offense was, a shaky performance few saw coming.

6. Wisconsin (6-0) (8)

Wisconsin can play its “C” game over the next month, and it still will be undefeated going into a Nov. 18 showdown with Michigan. That’s how soft the Badgers’ underwhelming schedule is over the next four weeks.

7. Ohio State (6-1) (9)

Since the Oklahoma loss, the Buckeyes have won five straight games by a cumulative 266-56 margin. Impressive, yes, but of those five opponents, the only one over .500 is Army.

8. Miami (5-0) (10)

Two weeks, two miracles. Miami is living a charmed life these days, rallying in the final seconds to beat Florida State last weekend and doing the same to Georgia Tech on Saturday.

9. USC (6-1) (NR)

The Trojans have struggled in nearly all of their six wins, but they own victories over quality foes Stanford and Utah, and their lone loss is a quality one at one-loss Washington State.

10. Oklahoma (5-1) (NR)

The Sooners rebounded from the loss to Iowa State by edging Texas, and remain right there to take over the Big 12 if TCU falters.

Dropped out: Washington (6-1) and Washington State (6-1)

Heisman Watch

In order of predicted finish:

RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State

It’s the junior’s award to lose at the midway point of the season. He’s the leading rusher and receiver for the best team in the Big Ten, a national title contender he has led back to the sport’s premier stage.

RB Bryce Love, Stanford

The nation’s leading rusher has a run of at least 50 yards in nine straight games. He makes staying up until 2 a.m. worth it.

QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

The senior finally threw an interception on his 151st pass attempt of the season, but he made sure Oklahoma avoided consecutive losses by completing a go-ahead 59-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against Texas.

QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

He beat Baylor for the first time in four tries and did so in style, scoring four touchdowns and throwing for 459 yards.

RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

The New Jersey native has rushed for more than 200 yards in three of his first six college games and has more rushing touchdowns (10) than Barkley and one fewer than Love.