Throw in the win two weeks ago over an Ohio State squad that flattened MI, and the Spartans are suddenly looking like the stronger team than the unbeaten Hawkeyes.
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Trying to figure out who will end up where is a tough task requiring a lot of guesswork, but let’s take a stab at it.
The guess here is Stanford makes the playoff in this scenario.
Sure enough only 75 schools have enough wins to fill the 80 Bowl slots, meaning at least two and possibly five 5-7 squads are getting a postseason trip.
Long also said the committee deliberated extensively this week about whether to swap Clemson at Alabama at the top, but the fact that Alabama has not played a team in the committee’s top 10 kept the Tigers at No. 1.
The final rankings will be released at noon ET Sunday.
There’s been some talk of North Carolina rocketing into the CFP rankings with a victory, but even if they upset Clemson it would stand as just their second victory over a ranked opponent and doesn’t wipe away the season-opening loss to lowly SC.
Ohio State is right behind its Big Ten brethren this week at No. 6. 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. “You know, a 12-0 team and a one-loss team, so whoever wins this football game is going to get an extra bump, so I would think they’re in”. Now it becomes a North Carolina, Clemson, Ohio State debate.
After a win at North Carolina State, UNC is now set to take on the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship on Saturday.
If Stanford loses to USC in the Pac-12 title game, that debate likely gets swung even further in the Buckeyes’ favor.
“A conference championship game, not having one or having one can help or hurt you, depending on the circumstances of that particular season”, Long said. If they lose to Florida in the SEC title game, they are done.
Undefeated Iowa is No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings heading into Saturday’s Big Ten championship game against No. 5 Michigan State. It would be hard to explain leaving the Big 12 out two years in a row when it had a team ranked No. 3 before championship Saturday. The Hawkeyes and Spartans tied for the Big Ten in both takeaways (25) and turnover margin (+14). 3. The SWAC’s Alcorn State and Grambling play this weekend, eschewing the FCS playoffs.
The last NY6 bowl slot is slated to go to the Big 12 runner-up, which will be designated by the conference’s tiebreaker. Having already wrapped up the conference, Oklahoma does not need to worry about history repeating itself. According to the playoff committee, Notre Dame’s best victory was against No. 20 USC, an 8-4 team that fired its coach the week it played the Irish.
Hoping for an upset by the Tar Heels against Clemson or Florida against Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game are No. 6 Ohio State (11-1) and No. 7 Stanford (10-2). Long said the committee would not manipulate the rankings, possibly dropping Oklahoma to No. 4, to avoid giving a lower seeded team the advantage of playing close to home. Does North Carolina get in?
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Four CFP takeaways: Could the SEC get snubbed? Stanford still needs either Clemson or Alabama to lose to have a shot at finishing in the top four.
