Mexican College Football: A look at possible playoff scenarios

| American Football | 11/03/2023

In the top conference, 14 Grandes, three playoff berths are still up for grabs for five teams. In the National conference, there are four spots available for eight potential participants. With one week left in the 2023 Liga Mayor ONEFA regular season, here are all possible scenarios for reaching the playoffs in both conferences.

The 2023 Liga Mayor ONEFA regular season is rapidly coming to a close, leaving us with only one week remaining in both the 14 Grandes and the National conference. We stand on the threshold of the most thrilling four weeks of college American football in Mexico, where the path to championship glory will be determined.

In the 14 Grandes conference, the premier division of the competition, eight teams secure their spot in the postseason. So far, five teams have clinched their playoff berths, and as we approach Week 9, five teams are still competing for those coveted spots in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, in the National Conference, which grants playoff berths to six teams, only two have officially secured their entry. This means that four tickets are still up for grabs, and eight teams keep their hopes alive for that coveted promotion.

Here, we break down what each team needs to reach the playoffs:

GROUP A

  1. Auténticos Tigres UANL (7-0, secured the #1 overall seed).
  2. Águilas Blancas IPN (6-1, secured the #2 seed).
  3. Leones Anáhuac MX (4-3).
  4. Borregos CEM (4-3).
  5. Pumas Acatlán (4-3).
  6. Linces UVM (2-5, eliminated).
  7. Potros UAEM (0-8, relegated to the National Conference).

Tigres UANL (7-0): They are qualified and will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Águilas Blancas IPN (6-1): They are in the playoffs and will host their playoff game in the first round.

Leones UAMN (4-3): They need to defeat Aztecas UDLAP to advance. If they win and both Borregos CEM and Pumas Acatlán lose, they will advance as the third seed. If they win and both Borregos and Pumas win, they will advance as the fourth seed.

If they lose, they need either Borregos CEM or Pumas Acatlán to lose to advance. If they lose and both Borregos CEM and Pumas win, they will advance as the fourth seed.

Borregos CEM (4-3): If they lose to Borregos Monterrey and Leones Anáhuac win, they are eliminated. If they win and Pumas Acatlán lose, they advance as the third seed. If they win, Anáhuac loses, and Pumas Acatlán wins, they advance as the fourth seed.

Pumas Acatlán (4-3): Neither winning against Pumas CU guarantees them a playoff spot, nor losing eliminates them. If they win, they need either Leones or Borregos CEM to lose; otherwise, they are eliminated. If they lose, they need Leones Anáhuac to win and Borregos CEM to lose to advance to the playoffs.

Linces UVM (2-5): They are eliminated.

Potros UAEM (0-8): They are eliminated and relegated to the National Conference.

GROUP B

  1. Borregos Monterrey (6-1, secured the #1 seed).
  2. Borregos Puebla (5-2, secured the #2 seed).
  3. Borregos CCM (4-4, secured a playoff spot).
  4. Burros Blancos (3-4).
  5. Pumas CU (3-4).
  6. Borregos GDL (1-6, eliminated).
  7. Aztecas UDLAP (1-6, eliminated).

Borregos Monterrey (6-1): They are qualified and will be the top seed in their group.

Borregos Puebla (5-2): They are qualified and will be the second seed in their group. They will host the first-round playoff game.

Borregos CCM (4-4): Borregos CCM, who have a bye in Week 9, have already secured a playoff spot. However, they depend on other results to determine whether they will travel to Monterrey or Puebla for the playoffs.

Burros Blancos IPN (3-4): They need to defeat their sister team Águilas Blancas IPN and hope that Pumas CU loses. If they win and Pumas CU also wins, they need Pumas CU to allow at least 15 points more than they do to advance. If they lose, they need Pumas