No. 1 Clemson (11-0) and No. 2 Alabama (10-1) remain in the top two positions, but it was No. 3 Oklahoma (10-1) making the biggest splash this week, jumping up four spots after the Sooners’ win over TCU Saturday. While Oklahoma State fell out of the top 10 this week, a win over the arch rival Sooners could serve as a shot in the arm while dashing any hopes Oklahoma has of vying for a national title.
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For the unbeaten Hawkeyes (11-0), it represents their best ranking since being No. 3 in 2002. You can also purchase a subscription and have full access to the site. In the era of the Big 12 round-robin schedule, Iowa State is a really hard job. He will coach his final game with Iowa State on Saturday at West Virginia. Sure, throw the win over Tennessee into the equation, too, but Iowa has wins over No. 16 Northwestern along with a Wisconsin team that just got hosed by those Wildcats – and it doesn’t have a loss to Texas. Stanford has clinched a spot in the Pac-12 championship game and will be a favorite, but that opponent won’t likely add much to the resume and lift Stanford into the playoff field.
If No. 9 Stanford beats No. 6 Notre Dame, maybe the Cardinal find their way back to the top.
One-loss Florida could also still make an argument for inclusion if it beats Florida State in the Swamp and then Alabama in the conference title game. Suddenly the committee is forced to re-evaluate which two-loss team is most deserving of a playoff spot. While a big concern lies with the Hawkeyes’ strength of schedule (65 nationally), it doesn’t mean Iowa can’t match the physicality with the other big names in the playoffs. Notre Dame (10-1, Independent) 7. It would still be a tough sell to the committee to move the Bears ahead of a team like Oklahoma, but the bigger issue is one for the conference. Ohio State now sits at No. 8 in the polls with a matchup against No. 10 MI looming in Ann Arbor. Oklahoma State only suffered their first loss of the season this past weekend and would love nothing more than to ruin Oklhoma’s season.
But most importantly, for a team juggling health and correctable flaws all season to finally transcend all that and reinvent itself. After all, ask TCU about being ranked No. 3 the week before the final rankings last season.
Playoff Outlook: Very good, assuming Michigan State can win this week against Penn State and Iowa (No. 3 AP) can finish its surprising undefeated regular season with a victory at Nebraska. The Gators have their spot in the SEC title game locked up, but are dragging into their rivalry game off an overtime win against FAU. OR 18. MS 19.
No. 8 Ohio State beat the Hoosiers just 34-27 as IN threw a pass into the endzone on the game’s final play after a fourth-down snap from the 9-yardline that hit a receiver IN the hands.
If Ohio State deserved their place in the top four last season, then as of right now Notre Dame does as well.
The question would be if two-loss No. 9 Stanford and one-loss No. 11 Oklahoma State would move past the Buckeyes. The highest ranked Group of Five conference champion will receive a bid to either the Chick-Fil-a Peach Bowl (Dec. 31) or the Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1).
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The nightmare chaotic scenario for the committee is if Clemson loses to North Carolina at the ACC Championship Game. If Alabama ends up defeating Florida in the SEC Championship Game, as expected, the SEC may have only one team in the top 15.
