UNC enters CFB Playoff poll at No. 23; Clemson remains No. 1

A few analysts thought Oklahoma State would overtake Baylor, and maybe even move into the top four, after an impressive 49-29 win at home over previously unbeaten Texas Christian.

“It is really hard to judge those teams, and at this point in the season that is why you see Baylor where they are”, Long said.

The Crimson Tide face a daunting test when they take on Dak Prescott and the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road.

Iowa, Baylor, Stanford, Oklahoma State, LSU and Utah round out the top-10.

Florida’s chances of making the Playoff may depend on how Notre Dame finishes 2015.

I think the College Football Playoff rankings got it right last year, and I have faith they will get it right again this year. Let’s just take a step back and enjoy it. It is arguably their second best win of the season, behind their early October victory over Notre Dame. However, they have no margin of error. This would also spell doom for the ACC as a whole, as there is no other team in position to make a push for the CFP. State, at Auburn, and then win the SEC title game.

Now to the Big 10.

MI State (8-1) fell from No. 7 to No. 13 after losing 39-38 to Nebraska. The Buckeyes have yet to play a ranked team, though matchups against MI State, Michigan and a potential Big Ten championship game against Iowa loom. But that’s unlikely, since it’d require three undefeated Power Five teams (Clemson as the third), which college football history shows is improbable. I’m leaning towards no.

The Bears have done nothing but win, but can’t seem to get over the first-two-out hump.

The reason the committee and LSU fans should keep an eye on Baylor is it is projected by many prognosticators to play the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl. The complete Week 11 Big 12 football schedule, including game times and networks, is listed below. Ohio State 4. Notre Dame 5.

In the playoff semifinals, the simulation has Clemson (#1 seed) facing off against Notre Dame (#4 seed) and has Clemson winning 68.0% of the time by an average score of 34-28. Baylor remains the league’s highest ranked team at No. 6, but if you assume the top three and the survivor of Notre Dame-Stanford wins out, you could be looking at a second consecutive year with no Big 12 team in the mix.

The champion of the Pac-12 is a longshot to make the playoff, but it could happen.

Notre Dame and Alabama each has one loss.

There are going to be plenty of people who look at the rankings and hope that Alabama and Notre Dame both lose so the undefeated teams behind them can move up to where they should. Florida Gators 12. Oklahoma Sooners 13. The Tigers likely won’t leap one-loss Notre Dame (it would have beaten current top 25 teams Stanford, Navy and Temple and its only loss came at 1 Clemson).

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