Rankings & Playoff Time; Two Undefeated Teams Left

When asked whether the committee has discussed the relative strengths of schedule of North Carolina and Ohio State (their SOS is nearly identical in the Sagarin ratings) in making their rankings, Long said the committee does not consider the Sagarin ratings and doesn’t know how they are calculated, and added that “In the multiple number of metrics we look at, they’re not close”.

There is a slim chance – a very slim chance – that Ohio State could somehow find its way back to the College Football Playoff.

Yes, conference champions from the Power Five conferences should get preferential treatment, but after leaving out TCU last season, don’t expect the No. 3 Sooners to get the same treatment this year. Clemson faces a tricky matchup with North Carolina in the ACC championship, Alabama should handle Florida with no problems, and the Big 10 champion is also in.

The top five stayed the same this week with Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, Iowa and Michigan State holding position.

Iowa did as Iowa does and strangled Nebraska to death, setting up a showdown with Michigan State to determine which Big Ten team will earn a spot the field.

“Yes, I do feel that way”, the Tar Heels’ fourth-year coach said when asked if No. 14 North Carolina would merit a playoff bid should it be crowned ACC champion.

■Ohio State (11-1, CFP rank – 8): The Buckeyes answered the loss at home to Michigan State impressively by going on the road and dismantling a Michigan team that was ranked No. 10 by the playoff committee.

Clemson plays North Carolina for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship; Alabama plays Florida for the Southeastern Conference title. Here’s a look at each and the predicted order of the rankings to be released Tuesday. 4 and 5 teams playing for the final spot.

However, should Clemson or Alabama stumble this weekend, that would open the door to a whole host of scenarios.

“Protocol clearly says there can be more than one team from a conference in the final four”, Long said, “so that’s definitely a possibility”. The Hawkeyes and the Spartans play Saturday night for the Big Ten championship with the victor presumably advancing to the four-team playoffs. For good measure, Michigan State remained at No. 5 as well. Our guess is that they only have a chance at Playoff entry if they upset Clemson and Alabama also gets knocked off. Two-loss teams Stanford, Notre Dame and Florida State occupy the Nos. The Buckeyes moved up two places after drubbing rival MI. Stanford has beaten two ranked teams in No. 8 Notre Dame and No. 20 Southern California.

All things being equal, if the committee is picking between one-loss teams, Oklahoma (or any other Big 12 school) should be the first one out because of this scheduling irregularity.

The idle Irish are likely to be selected to participate in a New Year’s Six bowl, either the Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.) or Peach Bowl (Atlanta). This probably means that even if they do beat Alabama, they won’t make it into the playoffs.