Key CFP questions: Who’s No
This penultimate ranking could arguably be the most engaging, revealing regular-season College Football Playoff top 25.
Period.If there is
one upset in this weekend’s conference championship games– most realistically if TCU loses to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship or USC loses to Utah in the Pac-12 title game– it would open the door to controversy, enabling one-loss Ohio State and two-loss Alabama back into the conversation. The situation in which both TCU and USC lose lends further credence to the possibility, which is why how far Ohio State falls is the most significant question for the committee. If the Buckeyes are at No. 5, they still have an opportunity to finish in the top 4 with some aid. If the committee drops them listed below Alabama, their position becomes much more precarious.Ohio State is currently hanging by a thread after it was beaten comfortably in the house by a Michigan team playing without hurt star running back, Blake Corum. Alabama, which has been an afterthought in the playoff race, on Tuesday could be ranked ahead of both groups it lost to– three-loss LSU and two-loss Tennessee.2 Related Alabama and Ohio State’s résumés are
total.
So who the committee considers better Tuesday night would seem to have an edge on Choice Day– if there’s an opening. A TCU loss wouldn’t rule the Frogs out, however they would be lumped in with Ohio State and Alabama as teams that didn’t win their conference. A USC loss would be harder for the committee to justify since the Trojans would have lost twice to Utah, producing doubt within the room that they are “unquestionably”among the 4 finest teams. A three-loss K-State isn’t getting in. A three-loss Utah isn’t getting in.(Re)- go into Ohio State and Alabama.According to ESPN’s strength of record metric, Ohio State’s résumé is substantially better than Alabama
‘s. The average top 25 group would have a 20%possibility of going 11-1 or much better against the Buckeyes’schedule and a 29%opportunity of going 10-2 or better against the Crimson Tide’s schedule. The committee would also consider that the Buckeyes’ loss was to the No. 3-ranked team.Big 10 commissioner Kevin Warren stated his conference must”without a doubt”have two groups in the playoff. Alabama coach Nick Saban promoted for his team after its Iron Bowl win, stating,”We have actually lost
2 games to top-10 challengers, both on the last play of the game and both on the road. We could have easily won both games but didn’t. “Which is why the Tide still requires assistance, as does with Ohio State. In addition to identifying who’s in the bubble today, the committee could likewise consider making a change at the top. Here are three other things to view Tuesday night(7 ET on ESPN) when the group exposes its fifth of 6 rankings: Who’s No. 1? Both Michigan and Georgia might make a case for the top spot Tuesday night, and while the order could turn now or next week, it ultimately will be significant for seeding purposes. The No. 1 group deals with the No. 4 group in one semifinal and the choice
committee is
mindful to avoid putting the leading group at a geographic drawback. Michigan owns the very best win in the nation, versus the committee’s No. 2 team. The committee does not attempt to prevent rematches in the semifinals, so it’s possible Michigan could wind up at No. 1 on Selection Day and Ohio State could be No. 4. How will Saturday’s top games impact the College Football Playoff chase? What are the existing chances for the leading 4? The Allstate Playoff Predictor
has the responses. Check back each week as the odds are updated following that week’s games. The Wolverines outscored Ohio State 28-3 in the 2nd half Saturday. They also have a top 25 win against No. 11 Penn State, and are No. 2 in the country in strength
of record. Georgia, though, is close behind them at No. 5, with its best wins versus Tennessee, Oregon and Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have actually looked sluggish just recently in the first half, though, scoring simply 10 points versus Georgia Tech and 9 the previous week in a 16-6 win at Kentucky. The committee has said in recent weeks that Georgia separated itself from the rest of the nation as its No. 1 group. Is that still the case?Can USC jump TCU?The simplest relocation for the committee would be to bump undefeated TCU approximately No. 3 following Ohio State’s loss, however USC’s back-to-back wins versus ranked challengers UCLA and Notre Dame might give them a bigger boost. Including the Trojans
‘Sept. 24 win at Oregon State– the group that simply removed rival Oregon from the Pac-12 title game– USC has three wins against groups currently ranked in the CFP leading 25. No other school has more than two wins against present leading 25 opponents.Which Group of 5 team leads for a New Year’s 6 bowl bid?The greatest ranked conference champ from a Group of 5 league is ensured an area in a New Year’s 6 bowl, and that likely will be chosen at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday when No. 19 Tulane hosts No. 22 UCF in the American Athletic Championship game game. According to ESPN Analytics, Tulane has a 59% possibility of winning. No. 24 Cincinnati ought to fall out of the rankings today following its 27-24 loss to Tulane on Friday. It’s likewise worth watching on 10-2 UTSA, which is currently unranked by the committee, however will face North Texas in the Conference U.S.A. title game Friday. According to ESPN Analytics, UTSA has a 74%chance of winning.ESPN reporters ‘top-four picks Andrea Adelson: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. TCU 4. USC Blake Baumgartner: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. TCU 4. USC Expense Connelly: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. TCU 4. USC Heather Dinich: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. TCU 4. USC David Hale: 1. Michigan 2. Georgia 3. TCU 4. USC Chris Low: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. TCU 4. USC Harry Lyles Jr.: 1