Notre Dame Fighting Irish join the party

In fact, the Hawkeyes moved up four spots after the Week 1 College Football Playoff rankings. It is arguably their second best win of the season, behind their early October victory over Notre Dame.

Iowa was arguably the biggest victor of the newest College Football Playoff rankings, jumping from nine to five after merely escaping Bloomington with a 35-27 win over the mighty Hoosiers.

Defending national champion Ohio State is No. 3 in the rankings. However, it will only happen if Iowa is still undefeated when they meet.

Although there are problems now, it looks like these issues will be sorted out by the remainder of the season.

Irish eyes are smiling with three games left to play in this football season.

Now, if No. 1 Clemson loses by two points in four overtimes to once-beaten North Carolina, maybe the Tigers still get into the Final Four. However, they have no margin of error. The Tigers clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and now have the smoothest road to the playoff. Oklahoma State 49, TCU 29.

Florida’s unimpressive 9-7 home win over Vanderbilt cost them a spot in the rankings. If Alabama wins the SEC West, and Florida beats Alabama in the SEC Championship game, then Florida would likely make the playoff.

The Bears have done nothing but win, but can’t seem to get over the first-two-out hump. While LSU could potentially get in, a two loss Ole Miss team has no shot.

Now to the Big 10. Oklahoma; 13. MI State; 14.

MI State are hoping that their loss to Nebraska doesn’t rule them out completely, but they still have to play Ohio State in Columbus.

Clemson (1) clinched the ACC Atlantic with a win over Florida State (16) and will go into the conference title game undefeated if they can beat Syracuse, Wake Forest, and SC (each has three wins).

Big 12 teams continue to struggle to earn a spot among the top four teams. I’m leaning towards no.

What was surprising with these rankings, however, was Oklahoma State improving to the just 8th following their win over TCU.

Oklahoma and TCU, and the Cowboys also play Oklahoma. If Notre Dame wins out, based on what they have already done, that will leave the Pac-12 and Big 12 on the outside looking in. They’ve got the best résumé, those all-important “style points” and a shiny new division title.

Notre Dame makes noise just by being Notre Dame.

“It’s a recognition by the committee that they were increasingly impressed by Iowa and their body of work”, Long said. So at most, the Big 12 could have one unbeaten team which is key for Notre Dame as an unbeaten Big 12 champ could end up leap frogging Notre Dame even if the Irish win out. The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes have the longest winning streak in the country, but they were surpassed by the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide. Ohio State Buckeyes 4. Obviously beating Stanford and finishing 11-1 is a must, but it’s going to take a few help.

The top four’s current configuration would give the Orange Bowl a Clemson-Notre Dame matchup.