Entering conference championship week we had two outcomes on our minds, chalk or chaos. Of course, just the way college football has been this year, we got both. While the committee will try their hand to organize the rankings Sunday morning, I will bring you the Week 14 Saturday Takeaways tonight.
The locks
Week 14 Saturday Takeaways No. 1: Washington and Michigan will have the easiest sleep tonight of anyone in college football knowing they, without doubt, have spots in the College Football Playoff locked up.
Washington picked up a second win over Oregon this year to take the final Pac-12 crown. Despite being the underdogs, Washingtonʻs win was not too much of a surprise as the Huskies have consistently won tough games all year.
Michigan handled Iowa in the Big Ten Championship to secure their spot. It still is yet to be determined, but the Wolverines look like they will have the top seed.
The bubble
Week 14 Saturday Takeaways No. 2: And then there were four teams. For two spots. Florida State begins the list as undefeated conference champions, however there are some teams with talent on their tail.
Texas stands out from the rest with a conference championship and an early season win at Alabama. Speaking of Alabama, the Crimson Tide are alive and well in the Playoff conversation following a 4th & 31 conversion last week and an SEC Championship win over Georgia on Saturday. Keeping on the conversation of Georgia, the Bulldogs had their 29-game win streak snapped by the Crimson Tide. While in many eyes, the Bulldogs are deserving because of their consistent performances over the last three seasons.
“Best vs. most deserving”
Week 14 Saturday Takeaways No. 3: The phrase to describe this yearʻs dramatic final four decision will be “best or most deserving”. What does that even mean? Are we comparing two things that are the same? No.
As stated earlier, Texas has the most appealing case for a Playoff spot with the most dominant performance of the past week and they (maybe) have best win of the four teams in the discussion. They would fall in the best category. Alabamaʻs win over Georgia was impressive as well, but their head-to-head loss to the Longhorns is the one drawback, not discounting a near loss to Auburn. The Tide are also in the best discussion.
As an undefeated Power 5 conference champion, no team in the bubble is “most deserving” than Florida State. Despite being down to their third-string quarterback, despite not having all of the style points as others, the Seminoles have checked off everything that has historically been needed to qualify for the Playoff. Being such, it is a tremendous pain to leave them out.
Or maybe the SEC just does not get in
Week 14 Saturday Takeaways No. 4: What if we just step back and say, “the SEC was the conference that messed up.” The SEC played the worst against the Power 5. LSU fueled Florida Stateʻs run in Week 1, and a week later, Alabama propelled Texas to their current position. The SEC had the real upset loss of the Power 5 conferences this week. No single team in the SEC took care of business week-in and week-out for fourteen Saturdays. It is crazy to think, but maybe the SEC cannibalized itself and eliminated all of its teams from Playoff contention.
What about the Group of 5?
Week 14 Saturday Takeaways No. 5: Interestingly, the conversations donʻt end after ranking teams one to six, it must be decided who will represent the Group of 5 in the New Yearʻs Six bowls. SMU was able to take down Tulane, who came in as the favorite to take the NY6 spot, even down their starting quarterback. The Mustangs at 11-2 overall, will be compared to unbeaten Conference USA champs, Liberty. The Flames biggest concern is how the committee will view their strength of schedule, which ranks dead last in the FBS.
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