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This is the second-to-last set of rankings released by the selection committee. The Sooners took care of business and were now on a roll. The Michigan State-Iowa victor at the Big Ten Championship Game will go to the playoff.
The final College Football Rankings are released Sunday following Saturday’s championship game action.
Without having to play in an official Big 12 Championship Game, No. 3 Oklahoma can rest easy this weekend with their spot in the CFP all but guaranteed.
All of which makes it all the more possible the committee will simply move the Sooners up a spot to avoid such controversy. Iowa can win their much due respect if they win the Big Ten. A 10 point win did just that. “Games at the end of the season might be more fresh in our mind, but it’s important to the committee that we make sure that we value wins at whatever point in the season they occur against quality opponents”. Now to get into the top 4. Despite the Cowboys’ loss the week before to Baylor it could be a struggle. Oklahoma is playing the best football in the country. Like Iowa, win this coming Saturday and they will be in the top four, lose and a New Years Six Bowl awaits. Committee chairman Jeff Long said the committee considered slotting the Crimson Tide over No. 1 Clemson. Long said the Tar Heels, with two games against FCS competition, no wins against teams now ranked and a loss to 3-9 SC, have a strength of schedule issue compared to even Ohio State.
Clemson remained at the top spot. A loss to UNC would put the committee in a tough position. The only thing left is conference championships games, bowl games, and of course the College Football Playoff. Is it because their only loss was early in the season, even if it was to a team that is 4-7?
“The committee debated long and hard about the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams”, Long said. The Buckeyes best win is at No. 15 MI. Also, does it matter who you lost to. Ohio State answered the call by pounding their fierce rival in MI 42-13. The Sooners rolled over poor Oklahoma State in Bedlam last week to lock up their spot in the playoff.
The committee protocol calls for it to emphasis conference championships when teams are comparable.
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The Texas Longhorns, the only team to beat Oklahoma this season, could hurt the Sooners again if they beat the Baylor Bears this weekend. If they follow their own protocol, and act as if they are choosing the participants based on the playoff starting today, the Sooners would stand as the only conference champion. “And then secondly, last year there was discussion about having a – not having a conference championship game hurting a team, and then this year there’s discussion about it advantaging a team”. It’s amusing, maybe all it took to get the Spartans rolling was a humbling loss and an upset without their best player? The Vols are now a ranked team, on a hot streak, and have a fan base that historically travels well.
