In an unprecedented turn of events, the Collegiate Football Playoffs have descended into utter bedlam akin to a game of musical chairs, as not one, but five major conferences frantically strive for a place among the four coveted playoff spots. Each of these teams are battling tooth and nail, in a display not too dissimilar to the Hunger Games, only the odds are just slightly better. Ever since the beginning of college football, by mid-November, one can usually count on at least one Power 5 conference team to gracefully bow out, waving their white hanky of defeat, and effectively retiring from the College Football Playoff race. This time last year, only the noble knights of the Big Ten (Ohio State and Michigan) and the ferocious warriors of the SEC (Georgia and Tennessee) had teams with a dream, a hope, a prayer, and at least a 33% chance to reach the playoff, according to the omniscient Allstate Playoff Predictor. However, this year, instead of this gentle autumnal attrition, all five major conferences are in the race, elbowing each other, pulling hair, and tripping one another over in their desperate quest for the golden ticket into the playoffs. Some reports even suggest that the Big 12's Oklahoma is moving their training sessions to a circus, in order to better adapt to the chaos. The Pac-12's reputed Washington, considered by many as the classical composers of football, are giving up their Beethoven-style harmony for a Punk Rock-esque pandemonium - all in the hope of claiming one of those shimmering playoff spots. "There's a rumbling in the field," Brody McDonald, a veteran sports analyst, commented with a twinkle in his eye, "College football has turned into a sporting circus, and it's exhilarating!" In the midst of this outrageous spectacle, let's not forget the humble Allstate Playoff Predictor, who's probably bewildered, possibly horrified at the task of calculating the odds for twice as many teams this year. All this points to one truth - the concluding chapter of this year's college football playoff race is going to be a rollercoaster ride. Get your popcorn ready, football fans. The greatest showdown this side of Armageddon is upon us. May the odds be ever in your favour!