But the status of the second team is where OSU can make its jump. Beat Auburn? Stay on course for the playoffs.
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The Sooners are still stinging from the way they lost last year’s Bedlam game, so its’ fairly evident that both teams will enter the contest with something to prove and with a chip or their shoulder. While the voters love them, it’s a risk they better not try to mess with. The victor of The Game will play for the Big Ten championship if the Spartans pick up a second loss on the season’s final week. It goes with the history of the program. Baylor at No. 7 Shhhhhh, the Bears are lurking. They’re #3 right now. Spartan fans should root for Oklahoma State to beat them this weekend. Still, folks in the Big 12 have to feel a lot better about its chances of having a league member in the playoff this time around. They’re ranked #11 going into the final week. The highest-ranked conference champion from a Group of 5 conference is guaranteed a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl, so No. 15 Navy would likely face No. 10 MI in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The other top-four spots went to No. 1 Clemson (11-0), No. 2 Alabama (10-1) and No. 4 Iowa (11-0).
Notre Dame received bad holiday tidings Tuesday from the College Football Playoff selection committee. The Sooners have no such problem, with a win at Tennessee (7-4) to their credit.
Unbeaten Iowa (11-0) and No. 5 Michigan State (10-1) can set up a possible playoff play-in game in the Big Ten championship if both win this weekend.
Michigan: Still in the running, although barely.
Iowa was ranked fourth, followed by Michigan State, Notre Dame, Baylor, Ohio State, Stanford and Michigan. 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. This might not bode well for the Big 12, again. That’s not surprising, given the committee’s obvious affection from the very first ranking (when Alabama was ranked No. 4 on November 3). The committee’s rankings are starting to fall in line with most power ratings that have placed Oklahoma in the top four before this week. Oklahoma State won 38-35 in overtime past year, but Oklahoma was in control before Perine was knocked out of the game with a sprained left ankle in the third quarter.
Notre Dame figured to be a thorn in the Sooners’ flesh, since the Irish beat Texas 38-3 in September and OU achieved the impossible and somehow lost to the Longhorns 24-17 in October.
The Irish might be able to get some help from their rivals. Stanford need to get through Notre Dame first which should help their SOS before playing either UCLA or USC for the conference title. The Irish’s playoff hopes may very well rest with their final game against No. 9 Stanford.
No. 13 Florida State at No. 12 Florida: Everyone has written off Florida State after two losses. Then lose to Alabama in the SEC Championship. But with one loss and a shot at an SEC title, the Gators would seem to still be alive in the playoff race. It’s hottest team might be #10 MI, a two-loss team and the last of the conference’s four teams. Just keep a one-loss ND team out of the conversation.
North Carolina: Don’t laugh, just think.
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#14 North Carolina: Their resume doesn’t have near the power of the Michigan State’s, but beating Clemson in the ACC Championship would be a great addition. If Michigan State is better, they will emerge from the title game in Indianapolis on December 5th with a trophy and a berth in the final four. I like Clemson to breeze past rivalry week and win the Palmetto Bowl.
