According to the College Football Playoff selection committee, which has total autonomy, if the college football season ended today the playoffs would have Clemson playing Notre Dame and Alabama playing Ohio State (a repeat of one of last year's first-round games).
That would mean the Fighting Irish and the Crimson Tide, with one loss each, would be in and undefeated Iowa and Baylor or Oklahoma State would be left out.
There would again be no representative from the Big 12, and this year the Pac-12 would join them in the Up The Creek Without a Paddle Club.