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College Football Playoff rankings: The calm before the storm
Alabama defensive back Anthony Averett (28) breaks up a pass intended for Auburn receiver Will Hastings (33) during the second half of the Iron Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama maintained its iron grip atop of the College Football Playoff rankings with the win. AP Photo/Butch Dill

College Football Playoff rankings: Calm before the storm

Well, here we are. Less than a week away from the four playoff teams announced yet there seems to be so many questions left unanswered. The first two College Football Playoffs were relatively simple when the season ended – we had all conference champions and minimal complaints. This year, we could have a conference not send its champion to the playoff but send a team that didn't even win its division instead. We have been debating the worth of a team like Washington against two-loss teams in other leagues.

It seems that Alabama and Ohio State are locked in. So we essentially have five teams still fighting for two spots and three of those teams hail from the Big Ten. Let's look at what's happening:

#1: Alabama
The Crimson Tide should definitely feel that even if they lose to Florida in the SEC championship game on Saturday that they still should make the College Football Playoff. They are the lone undefeated team remaining that matters in the rankings and having a loss to Florida at a neutral site isn't a bad loss compared to the rest of the teams in the running. Still, they'd love to win another conference title.

#2: Ohio State
It seems that Ohio State also has a lock on a playoff spot. They are out of games to play so they cannot lose a game. There also aren't three teams ranked behind them that could wow the committee that much that they would all leap over the Buckeyes and knock them out of the playoff.

#3: Clemson
Clemson beats Virginia Tech and they are back in the playoff. Lose? Well that's a dicey situation. A loss to Virginia Tech would be the worst loss any of the teams who realistically have a shot at a playoff spot could have. Someone has to win the Wisconsin-Penn State game and they would most likely leap over Clemson. A team like Michigan could have a case that their losses (and wins) are better than anything Clemson has done.

#4: Washington
Welcome back Washington! We knew that the loser of the Ohio State-Michigan game (especially if it was the Wolverines) would open up a spot for the Huskies in the top four. If they beat Colorado in the Pac-12 championship game, you'd think they'd lock in a spot in the playoff. That may not be the case. Could Wisconsin leap over with an impressive win over Penn State? A loss would all but knock Washington out. But who would enter in their place?

First two out (plus one)

#5: Michigan
This is the most interesting spot in the entire rankings. Sure, if the four teams ahead of them in the rankings win this weekend (well, Ohio State doesn't play, but you get it) then the Wolverines do not have a shot. If one of those teams lose, however, what does that mean for Michigan? The case against them is the fact that they finished third in their division; THIRD! They have two losses and both were in their last three games of the season. You could also believe that the Wisconsin-Penn State winner would leapfrog Michigan in these rankings. The case for them is that their two losses were by a combined four points – both on the road – and both on the final play of the game. They also beat both Wisconsin and Penn State during the regular season so even though one of them can claim to be Big Ten champions, Michigan can say they beat them both (they beat Penn State by 39 points). So can they really get into the playoff? Sure. If both Clemson and Washington lose, why couldn't they join the Big Ten champ in the playoff? Would the committee, though, put three Big Ten teams in there with Alabama?

#6: Wisconsin
The Badgers have a shot at getting in if they beat Penn State in the Big Ten title game and some help elsewhere. The question really is how the committee made these rankings. They have Michigan ranked ahead of both Wisconsin and Penn State but could that change when one wins the Big Ten championship? To me, Wisconsin has a better case. Their two losses were to Ohio State and Michigan in consecutive weeks and both wins were by seven points, plus they beat Nebraska and LSU. If they add a Big Ten title, they may have the goods to get in if Clemson or Washington lose.

#7 Penn State
Penn State has that one huge jewel: they beat Ohio State. In everyone's eyes, Alabama and Ohio State are easily the best teams in the nation and the only team to beat either of them is the Nittany Lions. But can they overcome that 49-10 loss to Michigan and a loss to Pittsburgh (by the way, how about Pitt with wins over Penn State and Clemson). Penn State would have to demolish Wisconsin and hope both Clemson and Washington lose in order to get in. That is possible, though unlikely.

No one else has a real shot at this. Even if Colorado beats Washington in the Pac-12 title game, they won't jump Michigan or the Big Ten champion for a playoff spot. Same goes for Oklahoma or Oklahoma State, who face off for the Big 12 title.

The rest of the pack 
#8: Colorado
#9: Oklahoma (Sorry, Big 12. You're shut out again)
#10: Oklahoma State
#11: USC
#12: Florida State
#13: Louisville
#14: Auburn
#15: Florida
#16: West Virginia
#17: Western Michigan
#18: Stanford
#19: Navy
#20: Utah
#21: LSU
#22: Tennessee
#23: Virginia Tech
#24: Houston
#25: Pittsburgh (I told you. How about Pitt?)

Can you name every NCAA football national champion since 1950?
SCORE:
0/91
TIME:
8:00
2022
 
Georgia
2021
 
Georgia
2020
 
Alabama
2019
 
LSU
2018
 
Clemson
2017
 
Alabama
2016
 
Clemson
2015
 
Alabama
2014
 
Ohio State
2013
 
Florida State
2012
 
Alabama
2011
 
Alabama
2010
 
Auburn
2009
 
Alabama
2008
 
Florida
2007
 
LSU
2006
 
Florida
2005
 
Texas
2004*
*vacated
USC
2003
 
USC
2003
 
LSU
2002
 
Ohio State
2001
 
Miami
2000
 
Oklahoma
1999
 
Florida State
1998
 
Tennessee
1997
 
Nebraska
1997
 
Michigan
1996
 
Florida
1995
 
Nebraska
1994
 
Nebraska
1993
 
Florida State
1992
 
Alabama
1991
 
Washington
1991
 
Miami
1990
 
Georgia Tech
1990
 
Colorado
1989
 
Miami
1988
 
Notre Dame
1987
 
Miami
1986
 
Penn State
1985
 
Oklahoma
1984
 
BYU
1983
 
Miami
1982
 
Penn State
1981
 
Clemson
1980
 
Georgia
1979
 
Alabama
1978
 
USC
1978
 
Alabama
1977
 
Notre Dame
1976
 
Pittsburgh
1975
 
Oklahoma
1974
 
USC
1974
 
Oklahoma
1973
 
Notre Dame
1973
 
Alabama
1972
 
USC
1971
 
Nebraska
1970
 
Texas
1970
 
Ohio State
1970
 
Nebraska
1969
 
Texas
1968
 
Ohio State
1967
 
USC
1966
 
Notre Dame
1966
 
Michigan State
1965
 
Michigan State
1965
 
Alabama
1964
 
Notre Dame
1964
 
Arkansas
1964
 
Alabama
1963
 
Texas
1962
 
USC
1961
 
Ohio State
1961
 
Alabama
1960
 
Ole Miss
1960
 
Minnesota
1959
 
Syracuse
1958
 
LSU
1958
 
Iowa
1957
 
Ohio State
1957
 
Auburn
1956
 
Oklahoma
1955
 
Oklahoma
1954
 
UCLA
1954
 
Ohio State
1953
 
Maryland
1952
 
Michigan State
1951
 
Tennessee
1950
 
Oklahoma

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