Irish drop 2 spots in latest CFP rankings

There are only two other entries from the SEC in this week’s rankings with in-state foes Ole Miss at No. 18 andMississippi State at No.21. Get by Auburn and Florida is next in the conference title game. The Fighting Irish have the argument over Oklahoma – they beat Texas, Texas beat OU. Their 24-22 loss at Clemson in Week 5 is the most impressive thing they’ve done as none of their victories are especially head-turning. I am not a ND hater, I just don’t see them as a Top Five team. Notre Dame, yeah, being fourth and then dropping to sixth stinks, but go an blowout Stanford, and that changes right back. Now the Irish have work to do, and probably need help on top of that. The Cardinal might be the best team in the Pac-12 and could walk away with the conference championship. They were passed by Oklahoma, Iowa and Michigan State who sit at Nos. “And yes, they held on to win that game against a ranked opponent, but certainly we evaluate that game based on the quarterback being out in the second half, and we believe that had an impact”.

The undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes will play Nebraska on Friday, but will likely need to win the B1G Championship in order to seal their spot in the top four.

For the unbeaten Hawkeyes (11-0), it represents their best ranking since being No. 3 in 2002. Included in that is a win against an Air Force team that has clinched the Mountain Division of the Mountain West and is on the fringes of the Top 25. The fact that Florida still has just one loss this year is testament to the job that Jim McElwain has done.

With a win over Penn State, Michigan State would win the Big Ten East and set up a title showdown with Iowa. Baylor’s 45-35 win deprived the folks north of the Red River of a Bedlam game to rival 1984, when No. 2 Oklahoma beat No. 3 Oklahoma State. Baylor would be trickier, given its December 5 game against Texas and status as conference champion if it wins out and Oklahoma loses.

No. 12 Florida (10-1) can make the top four only if it wins out. Oklahoma is in better position.

Alabama plays at Auburn, Florida State is at Florida, and the Big 12 Conference offers Baylor at TCU as well as Oklahoma at Oklahoma State. The Gators have their spot in the SEC title game locked up, but are dragging into their rivalry game off an overtime win against FAU.

But what if North Carolina beats NC State and beats Clemson? Oklahoma (at Oklahoma State) 4.

So Florida could lose to Florida State and still land in the Sugar, per the SEC’s contract.

The Cowboys plunged from No. 6 in the rankings to No. 11 after their home loss to Baylor.

Oklahoma was the highest-ranked of four Big 12 teams in Tuesday’s rankings, placing ahead of No. 7 Baylor (9-1), No. 11 Oklahoma State (10-1) and No. 19 TCU (9-2). When you consider the way they were torched on the ground by the Bears last week, it’s hard to envision them being able to fix things enough to win this game. Big 12 championship and playoff implications, and a possible matchup of third-string quarterbacks. The Bison lost at Montana in their season opener. They have been the favorites for the number one seed since before the poll came out. The Ducks are a good team that is getting hot late, but Stanford’s only real shot was to finish with one loss. Suddenly the committee is forced to re-evaluate which two-loss team is most deserving of a playoff spot.