Only Nebraska stands between them and entry to the conference title game as an undefeated team. Joining Alabama in the pool of one-loss teams are Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, MI State, Ohio State, Florida, Baylor, North Carolina, Navy, Houston and Toledo.
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MI State might not crack the top four this week, but the Spartans (10-1) have to like where they stand. The Spartans already have wins against OR – maybe the best team in the Pac-12 over the last month of the season – MI and now Ohio State. Even in the unlikely event that Clemson, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma all win out, the Spartans will presumably get one of the four spots, at either Notre Dame’s or Oklahoma’s expense. With Iowa in the mid-50’s in recruiting, they are just a slight bit off from top 10.
The Tigers are in great shape heading into the season finale at SC. Had the Irish punched the ball in the end zone two more times instead of turning the ball over five times – three of which came within the Boston College 10-yard line – the margin of victory at Fenway Park would’ve been 16 or 17 points, right in line with Clemson’s against the Eagles earlier this season. A win this week at Stanford might put Irish back in – a loss would definitely eliminate them. In Or Out?: In. So far, the Big 12 has been on the outside looking in off the first three CFP rankings.
If Ohio State deserved their place in the top four last season, then as of right now Notre Dame does as well. So did Oklahoma State. Two unbeaten power conference teams left out while two one-loss teams are in isn’t good for the playoff, but there’s time to sort all of that out yet. No matter how it happened, it’s still impressive just to be one of the last teams standing.
Whether or not you love or hate Notre Dame Fighting Irish, it wasn’t up for debate by the playoff selection committee whether or not they belonged in the top four entering Week 12 of the 2015 season, and to think they should be dropped from the top four now is insane.
Certainly the wins over ranked opponents would be better than those of Alabama and Notre Dame and perhaps the eventual Big 12 representative, too.
Baylor readies for TCU without knowing who their quarterback will be after former backup and current starter Jarrett Stidham only played one half. It might have been a struggle, but the resume is starting to build. After moving up five spots last week, going up to No. 4 wouldn’t be that hard. The Horned Frogs scored with 51 seconds remaining on Kohlhausen’s second touchdown of the night but were stopped attempting to take the lead on an ensuing two-point conversion attempt and lost, 30-29. Baylor beat Oklahoma State with its’ third string quarterback in! In Or Out?: Nope. Otherwise, lose to Auburn, beat Florida to become the SEC champs, and hope for a few undefeated or 1-loss teams to fall. LSU fell to Ole Miss yesterday. The overtime victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday was the latest underwhelming victory, coming just two weeks after scoring late to get past a bad Vanderbilt team, 9-7, at home. In Or Out?: No, and the Gators could drop.
MI State beat Ohio State with Connor Cook sidelined by a shoulder injury, using a rotation of Tyler O’Conner and Damion Terry and a run-heavy game plan.
Ohio State at MI, noon: Urban vs. Harbaugh.
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A quick recap of what Stanford needed to happen on Saturday: Most importantly, it needed to win. In Or Out?: No, but don’t be stunned if the Spartans get up to No. 5. The Sooners can keep their hopes alive of making the playoffs with a victory here.
