Alabama still No. 2 in playoff rankings after shakeup

What if Penn State beats Michigan State, Michigan beats Ohio State and Michigan beats unbeaten Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game?

If this season has proven anything, there are no givens. Asked about the impression that the win over Oklahoma State might have made with third-string quarterback Chris Johnson turning in a breakthrough performance, Briles turned to a Thanksgiving appropriate cooking analogy. Not for unbeaten Iowa. Clemson and Alabama nearly surely would have to lose.

So with one week left in the regular season, here’s a look at which teams still have a realistic shot at making the playoffs and what it will take to get there.

Clemson will travel to SC with the hopes of finishing the season undefeated. “So we’ll take care of what we can take care of”. The Tide will finish off their regular season in the famed Iron Bowl against Auburn on the road. The Tigers have struggled, but this rivalry always seems to save something special. Get by Auburn and Florida is next in the conference title game. Don’t win ugly against bad teams Nice work, CFP committee. Basically, the committee chose the easier way out this week by picking the undefeated team, knowing this debate won’t matter anyway. Notre Dame (19-16 win vs. Boston College) 5.

The Irish will be without cornerback KeiVarae Russell, their leading tackler, who will miss the remainder of the season with a broken leg. Russell’s injury occurred when he hit BC running back Tyler Rouse hard in the game’s waning moments. Oklahoma State (10-1, Big XII) 12. So, we see them dropping just five spots.

Iowa needs a win at Nebraska this week and then a win next weekend in the Big Ten Championship to likely secure their playoff spot.

Other ranked teams from the ACC include Clemson at No. 1 and North Carolina just behind the Seminoles at No. 14.

After three weeks of holding steady at No. 4 in the eyes of the 12-person committee, the Irish were jumped by Oklahoma (No. 3), Iowa (No. 4) and Michigan State (No. 5).

No. 8 Ohio State at No. 12 MI.

“(Alabama’s) strength of schedule, depending on how you look at it, is in the Top 10 for sure”, Long said. This might not bode well for the Big 12, again. Then if Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma. Iowa has been tough and gritty all season long.

(12) 4% selected Navy Midshipmen (Kangaroos) if they win out against Houston and in the American Conference title game. And basically, the committee appears to clearly like Oklahoma better than Notre Dame at the moment.

As Ohio State and Oklahoma State lost last Saturday, Oklahoma survived a 30-29 victory at home over depleted TCU. At No. 3, and with a high-profile road game remaining against 11th-ranked OSU, OU has the chance of playing in a Cotton Bowl semifinal. Their opponent in the SEC Championship Game if all goes according to plan, the Florida Gators, are ranked in the 12th spot.

No. 14 North Carolina (10-1) has nearly no chance at the postseason.

“That’ll all be up to our doctors and trainers”, Stoops said after the game.

How far should the Buckeyes and Cowboys have fallen after those losses?

Once-beaten Michigan State at No. 9 could make a move with its win over the Buckeyes, as well as previous Top 25 wins over Michigan and Oregon. They can now consider themselves on the radar.