The penultimate College Football Playoff rankings are out, and they provide plenty of insight into the committees thought process. Quite a few questions were answered, giving fans some clarity on where there team stands in the playoff picture. Here are the three major takeaways to keep in mind heading into championship weekend.
Alabama Needs a Win to get in
Alabama slipped from number 2 to number 3 after a quadruple overtime win over Auburn. They were passed by 11-1 Michigan, which suggests that the committee may not be as high on the Crimson Tide as in weeks past. Should Alabama suffer a loss to Georgia in the SEC title game, it is very likely they will fall out of the top 4 altogether. With an undefeated Cincinnati right behind them, along with 11-1 teams like Oklahoma State and Notre Dame, Nick Saban’s squad has to play their best game of the year to make the playoff. While it is possible an extremely close loss may be enough to slip in, a win is the only way for Alabama to guarantee a spot in playoff.
Cincinnati is not Safe yet
Cincinnati remained at number four after a convincing win over East Carolina. While the Bearcats have a reason to be excited, they are not out of the woods yet. Despite being 12-0, Cincy still trails a pair of 1 loss teams in the rankings. While they play number 16 Houston in the AAC championship game, number 5 Oklahoma State will play number 9 Baylor in the Big 12 title game. Should Cincinnati stumble and end up in a close game, the committee has made it clear they have no problem putting a 1 loss Power 5 team in front of them. This could very well lead to Oklahoma State jumping Cincinnati in the rankings should they look strong against Baylor. And if Alabama manages to beat Georgia, a 13-0 Cincinnati team could end up out in the cold if they do not dominate Houston on Saturday.
The Committee Thinks Oklahoma State is Better than Notre Dame
One of the biggest questions heading into the weekend was who would fill a potential empty 4th spot: Oklahoma State or Notre Dame? Both teams sit at 11-1, and Notre Dame had a leg up in the rankings all year. However, the committee has now made it clear they think Oklahoma State is the better team. The Cowboys jumped the Fighting Irish, and now sit in the coveted 5 spot. This means should Alabama, Cincinnati , or Michigan fail to win their conference title games, Oklahoma State will undoubtedly fill their spot with a win over Baylor. Notre Dame on the other hand now needs two losses above them to have a shot at getting in, which clears up who is in the driver’s seat and who is on the outside looking in.
Conclusion
With many of the big questions answered by this weeks rankings, the scenarios are now clear. Georgia is almost certainly in, regardless of how they perform. Meanwhile, Michigan and Alabama must win by any means necessary to punch their tickets. Cincinnati needs to dominate to ensure their spot is safe, and Oklahoma State will look to win and take any vacant spot in front of them. Notre Dame is still alive, but it is now clear they need a fair amount of chaos to get into the College Football Playoff.
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