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. Oklahoma, whose regular season is complete, should stick in the final four after its convincing win over Oklahoma State on Saturday.
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Left unspoken is what happens if North Carolina has an ACC title and a win over the team the committee has ranked No. 1 every week since the start of November? They’re focused on a win and then paying attention to the final rankings released on Sunday.
So will any of the top teams take a loss? The Gators dropped to No. 18 after losing 27-2 to Florida State and an upset will almost certainly reflect poorly on the Crimson Tide, even though ‘Bama nearly moved into the top spot this week. The Sooners made one final impression on the CFP committee with a 58-23 rout of No. 17 Oklahoma State (10-2).
The Tar Heels have no top-25 victories.
“The fact that I think that most of the discussion and debate was above them and below them would indicate that their position at three was pretty solid with the committee” this week, Long said of the Sooners. Michigan State 11-1 6. The Buckeyes best win is at No. 15 MI.
But Stanford’s conference record and the Pac-12 selection process would limit any damage caused by a loss Saturday in Levi’s. Now, why I would put them in if Alabama or Clemson lose, is they have a schedule featuring 12 Power-5 schools, and would have 8 wins against bowl teams.
Rounding out the top 10 were Stanford (10-2), which plays USC in the Pac-12 title game Saturday; Notre Dame (10-2); Florida State (10-2) and North Carolina (11-1), which moved up four spots.
The Big XII, shut out of the bracket last season, looks like it may be the very first conference in the playoff this time around. However, all of those teams have championship games this weekend. The loser will, more than likely, head to the Rose Bowl.
The Buckeyes are No. 8, but at No. 9 is Stanford, which just beat Notre Dame. TCU 10-2 12. Baylor 9-2 13. 11 and 12, respectively.
OU-Alabama would be the continuation of a crusade that was both built up and backed up by Bob Stoops – his anti-SEC comments over the last few years chapped the Deep South crowd, then the Sooners’ rousing 45-31 victory in the Sugar Bowl two years ago fanned the flames.
(9-1) Baylor (#10 in the A&H Rankings): Win at TCU (#15 in the A&H Rankings), win at home against Texas (#58 in the A&H Rankings), hope Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, hope Clemson or Notre Dame loses, and hope to prevail with the committee.
Oklahoma-Alabama in a JerryWorld national semifinal. If the Cougars defeat No. 22 Temple (10-2) in this weekend’s AAC Championship Game, they should receive an invitation to a New Year’s Six access bowl. The semifinal matchups are announced around 11 a.m., with the other four bowl pairings disclosed around 3 p.m. The championship game will be January 11 at Glendale, Ariz.
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Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long, who serves as the chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee, said North Carolina’s schedule has held it back. Based on previous CFP rankings, we know the committee values the “eye test” when talking about Ohio State, whose only loss came on a last-play field goal to Michigan State. And more and more the Sooners are winning the best-team-right-now argument in the court of public opinion.
