CFP top four remain same

The top four remained the same from last week, with Alabama at No. 2, Oklahoma at No. 3 and Iowa at No. 4. There’s also a very real chance that the Big Ten champion will jump Oklahoma.

Folks, they lost on a failed two-point conversion to No. 1 Clemson and lost on a field goal as time expired against now No. 7 Stanford. 1 and 2, respectively, also face CFP-ranked foes in their conference title games.

Assuming the Hawkeyes win the Big Ten, and Clemson and Alabama lose, they have a strong case to own the No. 1 or No. 2 position.

Long acknowledged the Tar Heels’ improving credentials and 10-game win streak, but made clear that their season-opening loss to what turned out to be a 3-9 SC team is weighing them down. That included drubbings of No. 21 Louisiana State and a 50-point smashing of Championship Subdivision conference champion Charleston Southern.

At the least, Ohio State needs Florida (10-2) to stun Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game or No. 10 North Carolina (11-1) to beat top-ranked Clemson (12-0) in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

4, while Michigan State and Ohio State came in at No. 5 and No. 6.

Are you ready for Oklahoma vs. Alabama at the Cotton Bowl in a College Football Playoff semifinal?

“The committee debated long and hard about the No. 1 and No. 2 teams, ” committee chairman Jeff Long said. Notre Dame, sixth last week, fell to eighth after losing to Stanford. The Big 12 is the only power conference that does not have a title game.

Teams four, five and six are going to argue about the No. 4 spot.

After a one-week hiatus, USC returns to the CFP rankings fresh off a victory over crosstown rival UCLA. On the defensive side, the coaches selected Joey Bosa and Joshua Perry to the first team.

With an Iowa win, Ohio State runs the risk of being docked for its loss to Michigan State.

“I think what we showed the country on Saturday is what people have been waiting to see all year”, defensive lineman Joey Bosa said. It would put Ohio State back in play. That’s because the Sooners have been playing great of late, like a playoff team. 11 and 12, respectively. I am a bit surprised they were not ranked higher in this week’s poll than their #10 spot, as jumping into the four spot with a hypothetical win over Clemson seems like a lot. Checking in behind the Big Ten duo are surging OR (9-3), Oklahoma State and Florida. I just don’t understand how the committee can rank Northwestern a spot ahead of MI, a team that beat it 38-0. The Seminoles rode their 27-2 victoryto a No. 9 ranking this week. Navy dropped eight spots from last week.

The College Football Playoff selection committee on Tuesday unveiled its final preliminary ranking before it decides this weekend who will play for the 2015 national championship.

The rankings that will actually determine which four teams will play for a national title, and which ones are headed off to bowl games of a lesser stature. Alabama, who will play Florida in the SEC championship game, is next at 79%. Right now, Oklahoma State and TCU are tied for second, a half-game ahead of Baylor, in the Big 12.

Next up for Stanford is the Pac-12 championship against #24 USC at Levi’s Stadium, where Stanford should enjoy home-field advantage.