Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame top College Football Playoff rankings

The real questions begin with number four Notre Dame getting the nod to move into the top 4 with Jeff Long saying Notre Dame is a “solid” number four.

Playing in the Big 10 Championship game against a one-loss Ohio State or MI will not help them bump up any higher despite being undefeated.

Barring upsets, Notre Dame’s promotion to No. 4 would cause the Big 12 to root for the Pac-12’s Stanford to knock off the Irish on November 28.

The biggest jump came for the Cowboys of Oklahoma State moving up to eighth but many people still believe that is not a high enough ranking for them, after they dominated TCU. That could create room in the top four for the Big 12 champion, whoever it is.

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.

The Owls, now 8-1 on the season, were also No. 22 when the initial rankings were released last week.

No. 3: Despite being unbeaten on the year, the Buckeyes fell to the No. 3 spot in this weeks poll. But while Florida fans should obviously root for the Cardinal and Utes in those games, respectively, I think the former is far more important. The Clemson situation is interesting, only because there might be a few thought that a Round 2 wouldn’t be all that appealing – the first Fighting Irish-Tigers game was good, but it didn’t exactly capture the nation’s undivided attention. Still, the committee fails to acknowledge that Ohio State doesn’t play by the same rules as the rest of the field vying for one of the four coveted spots. Alabama controls its own destiny and would clinch the SEC West with at least two wins in its last three games. Undefeated Oklahoma State moved up from No. 14 to No. 8 in this week’s rankings after beating TCU, which dropped from No. 8 to No. 15, by 20 in Stillwater. So, something else must happen for LSU to move up two spots.

If that ranking holds, the teams would play in a national semifinal – either at the Orange Bowl in Miami or at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas – on New Year’s Eve. A common opponent should mean something, but then again, Stanford’s schedule has been much harder.

Well, in both the coach and committee’s opinion, that group includes Notre Dame. The only Power Five team with a winning record Ohio State has beaten is Big Ten East rival Penn State.

Iowa also rose up to No. 5 in the rankings. Following a decisive 42-10 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes, David Shaw’s club climbed to No. 7 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings (previously ranked No. 11).

“The committee will rank the teams and publically issue the rankings on December 6 just like they did today and Navy will be ranked according to their performance to date”, Hancock said.

Baylor over Oklahoma State?

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