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ESPN's weekly CFP show and rankings damage college football's credibility. It's why we get trite debates like Michigan State vs. Michigan.

The lead story in college football this week didn’t involve any star players, epic comebacks or even a look ahead to this weekend’s big matchups.

It centered on how the College Football Playoff committee decided to rank Michigan No. 6 and Michigan State No. 7 in this week’s standings even though they have identical 8-1 records and just nine days prior the Spartans had defeated the Wolverines.

“The committee gave great credence to the Michigan State win head-to-head against Michigan,” chair Gary Barta said.

Sure, except when it didn’t.

The order of the ranking between two teams outside the actual top four that would make the playoffs – if the season ended today, which it isn’t – is of no importance, of course.