The top five stayed the same this week with Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, Iowa and Michigan State holding position.
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Oklahoma (11-1) was No. 3 after claiming the Big 12 title with a win over No. 17 Oklahoma State last week. That would lead to another round of familiar chaos, with three teams in particular waiting to take advantage: North Carolina, No. 7 Stanford and No. 6 Ohio State.
After a win at North Carolina State, UNC is now set to take on the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship on Saturday.
The fact that the Big 12 doesn’t hold a championship game in their conference was a major contributing factor to both Baylor and TCU being left out of the top four last season, and the same should hold true for Oklahoma this year.
After thirteen insane weeks, one Saturday is all that stands between us and bowl season, including the College Football Playoff. Here is a look at some of the key games that will have a huge impact on who makes the final four teams for this year’s playoff. The national championship game will be played January 11 in Glendale, Ariz.
That’s not to say it shouldn’t change drastically if North Carolina beats Clemson, but right now, it makes sense.
Florida State: The Seminoles are probably locked into the Peach Bowl unless North Carolina upsets Clemson and the ACC doesn’t get a team in the playoff. The victor advances. The loser likely goes to the Rose Bowl.
One of just five “Power 5” teams with only one loss so far, the Tar Heels remain a long shot for inclusion because they would need to climb six spots in one week.
When asked whether the two-season-old playoff could see its first conference nonchampion as a playoff entry, selection committee chairman Jeff Long said he was unable to answer that at this point. There do not appear to be any great teams with the possible exception of Oklahoma and Alabama.
The Sooners strengthened their case to be the Big 12’s first-ever participant in the College Football Playoff with a 58-23 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Florida State is 4-1 in bowl games under Jimbo Fisher. But jumping those two teams only places Stanford at No. 5. Ohio State might be looking to get in, but without a conference championship game to play in (Iowa vs Michigan State in the Big Ten) they shouldn’t be getting in. Ole Miss, Northwestern and MI round out the top 15.
Stanford has two losses, true, one fewer than the Buckeyes and Tar Heels, but would have the same number of wins as Ohio State.
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For those other teams, not only is that 13th game a chance for a loss and being bumped out of the playoffs, but it’s also another opportunity for key injuries, as well as another week of pounding on the bodies of the players. They seem like the more complete team as North Carolina has played a relatively easy schedule. Utah is one of four teams ranked from the Pac-12 this week, with Stanford leading the conference at No. 7. Expect Bama to feed the beast (aka, Derrick Henry) early and often Saturday in what could turn out to be a Heisman Trophy statement game for the running back, then turn it over to its defense with future NFL’ers.
