College Football Playoff scenarios for the remaining contenders

The SEC was represented in the rankings by Tennessee at 25, LSU at 21, Florida at 18, Ole Miss at 13, and of course Alabama at 2. But unlike other contenders vying for playoff inclusion, Oklahoma (11-1) has no games remaining on its regular-season schedule and already has a conference championship in its possession. For North Carolina to prevail, however, the committee would have to overlook (A) that the Tar Heels’ best win before beating Clemson (in this scenario) will have been at Pitt (#31 in the A&H Rankings), and (B) that the Tar Heels lost to a (3-8) SC team (#85 in the A&H Rankings) that lost on Saturday to the Citadel. This year, North Carolina would be that late-rising team, if the Tar Heels can upset Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. At No. 3, the Oklahoma Sooners don’t risk losing this weekend because its league has no title game.

I’m an Ohio State supporter, their not my favorite college program, but I respect what they’ve been able to overcome. The Buckeyes best win is at No. 15 MI. A four-loss USC team would not even sniff the top 4, but a two-loss Pac-12 champion Cardinal club would have a case. The Sooners are 11-1, they are done, and they are a lock. While a Big Ten team will undoubtedly occupy the fifth slot, I think it is likely that Ohio State finds its way into sixth place as well, giving the conference three of the top six.

If Alabama or Clemson were to fall, Oklahoma could move up in the rankings.

“Those are two more pieces to those resumés that allowed us to look deeper into that No. 1 and No. 2 ranking”, Long said. The highest ranked team gets the spot. North Carolina has won 11 straight games and they could end up being a real thorn in Clemson’s side.

The seeding is about as uncertain as it could be at this time, as Long said there were deliberations atop the poll with unbeaten Clemson and one-loss SEC champ Alabama, both of which play in conference title games on Saturday. The Irish dropped from fourth to eighth; Florida State and North Carolina moved up to Nos.

The craziness actually started the day before the playoff was announced when Ohio State whooped Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship with a third-string quarterback no one outside Ohio had ever heard of. Their one loss, at home to Michigan State, came in rainy conditions.

Maybe, especially if Alabama losses, too, and Stanford loses.

Then there is Ohio State.

Undefeated Iowa is No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings heading into Saturday’s Big Ten championship game against No. 5 Michigan State.

There’s only a slim window for a team outside the top five to sneak into a national semifinal, but the opportunity exists.

The only other matchup really worth watching this weekend would be the American Athletic Conference title game between No. 19 Houston and No. 22 Temple.

– If Stanford were to make the playoff, the Pac-12 rep would likely be OR, ranked No. 16.