Did Michigan, Penn State Deserve Spot?

Today’s College Football Playoff Committee’s rankings set this year’s playoff line-up.

Next up: a likely semifinal game at the Georgia Dome on December 31. A two-time national champion at Florida, he won another title with Ohio State after the 2014 season and the Buckeyes have won at least 11 games every season, including a ideal 12-0 record in 2012. Washington laid down convincing tracks by pounding Colorado in the Pac-12 title game. Washington, which played the second-easiest non-conference schedule in the entire FBS, edged Penn State for the final spot. After all, Washington didn’t earn its first top-10 win of the season until this past Friday night. “Had Washington had a stronger strength of schedule, I don’t think the conversation and discussion would’ve been as hard”. For the conferences who play an actual title game, that’s a 13th game against a quality opponent.

“We don’t look at it as just this year”.

“I think this is going to be interesting about strength of schedule because you think of it, if Oklahoma didn’t play us, they’d be in”, Meyer said.

Penn State: Will eagerly wait to see who is next on the schedule.

Alabama (13-0) would get that elusive 15th win by successfully defending its national championship. “They’ve played good teams and they’ve beaten good teams”.

Five years after the Jerry Sandusky scandal tainted the program and the late Joe Paterno’s legacy, and the ensuing NCAA sanctions seemed to put the Nittany Lions on the fast track to nowhere, they are Big Ten champs and look like a real national championship contender.

Only Penn State was able to make a final statement and what a statement it was.

Clemson beat Virginia Tech 42-35 on Saturday night to win the ACC. 3 and 4 teams, respectively, ahead of championship weekend, and both teams took care of business in their conference title games.

With those wins, the only other question to be answered is whether the committee will choose Big Ten champion Penn State over No. 2 Ohio State.

The College Football Playoff selection committee was given something to ponder by Penn State. Their chance to make the playoff came in the season finale versus Ohio State and they lost in double overtime. The Nittany Lions also were beaten by 39 at MI in their last loss.

You can argue Penn State has the best victory (Ohio State) and its loss to MI came early in the season when most of its linebackers were injured. But notwithstanding that, making hard decisions at the end of the season is why they chose to serve. Penn State and MI didn’t have winning percentages comparable to Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington.

Instead it’s just one more example of how the stars have aligned for this Alabama football team on its relentless march toward national championship No. 17. Unbeaten Western Michigan is likely to be the highest ranked Group of Five champion and get one spot.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction”.