The Colllege Football Playoff rankings reveal on Tuesday brought with it plenty of controversy, with Oklahoma and Iowa taking over the final two spots and Michigan State/Notre Dame left on the outside wondering what'll take to get in. We're here to boil down the committee's latest snapshot and give you our take with What Yesterday's College Football Playoffs Rankings Mean For The Rest Of The Season.
#1 Clemson And #2 Alabama Are Skating
There was no question who #1 and #2 were going to be when the CFP rankings were released, as the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide are entrenched where they are. For undefeated Clemson, it'll take a loss to a South Carolina team that just got taken down by FCS school The Citadel (!) to even be considered as a bubble team. Even a loss to North Carolina in the ACC title game may not be enough to knock them out of the top four.
As for Alabama, they'll need to either beat Auburn this week or have Ole Miss lose to Mississippi State to clinch the SEC West. Even if they have to back into the SEC title game after an unforeseen loss to Auburn, there's a good chance they'll be able to make it as a two-loss team with a win over a vulnerable Florida team.
Odds are that we already know half the College Football Playoff bracket. But, there's still two spots to provide intrigue...
#3 Oklahoma's Got An Inside Track
That's what happens when you face the toughest strength of schedule of any team in the FBS over the season's final three weeks. The Baylor victory back in Week 11 takes on added weight after the #7 Bears knocked #11 Oklahoma State from the ranks of the unbeaten in Week 12. While that takes away a little of the luster from Bedlam on Saturday, it'll still be a Top 12 opponent that OU topples if they get it done in Stillwater.
Baker Mayfield passing his concussion tests was the greatest thing that could've happened to this Sooners team. With him in tow, we've got the Sooners as favorites to upend OSU and secure a spot in the final four -- especially considering how much the committee seems to like OU's body of work.
Three Teams For One Spot?
This college football season has been absolutely bonkers, so it'd be bad form to write off the CFP chances of any team in the Top 10 right now. However, things appear to be setting up for a final-spot resume showdown between the projected #5 Michigan State vs. #4 Iowa Big Ten title game winner and #6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Of course, Michigan State has to get past Penn State, Iowa's gotta knock off Nebraska in Lincoln (although they're already in the Big Ten title game) and Notre Dame needs to beat #9 Stanford at their house for any of this to matter. But, if things hold pat, Michigan State and Iowa will be playing a de facto elimination game in Indianapolis. If Clemson, Alabama and Oklahoma maintain their spots at #1-3, that means the Michigan State/Iowa winner will likely be battling Notre Dame for the final CFP spot in the eyes of the committee.
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