Why this could be the committee’s most convenient

8:32 PM ET ESPN personnel The College Football Playoff choice committee might not even break a sweat this weekend. No prolonged disputes, no Tylenol needed and early hotel checkouts all around.No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 TCU and No. 4 USC appear one championship game win far from securing those wished for 4 spots. This will be the very first time because 2017 there won’t be a top-five match during champion weekend, as TCU is the only group facing a top-10 CFP challenger in No. 10 Kansas State. USC has a difficult game versus No. 11 Utah, however Michigan is playing unranked, four-loss Purdue.Georgia is a heavy favorite versus three-loss No. 14 LSU.A win in their particular conference title games would punctuate their résumés with one of the tiebreakers used to separate them from the likes of No. 5 Ohio State(

11-1) and No. 6 Alabama(10-2 ). Even with a loss, both Georgia and Michigan seem on solid footing for a top-four surface, barring absolute meltdowns. The committee would have to balance Michigan’s win against Ohio State– arguably the very best in the country– with the worst loss of any competitor. It would still own the head-to-head, though against Ohio State.The CFP is on the verge of a field that doesn’t include Ohio State, Alabama or Clemson. Let that sink in for a minute: Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State have claimed 17 of the 32 playoff spots. This season, Ohio State and Alabama didn’t win their respective departments. Their résumés are total. At No. 9, two-loss Clemson is a playoff afterthought following its house loss to South Carolina, even if it beats three-loss North Carolina to win the ACC.Instead of 2– or three!– SEC teams, four various Power 5 conferences might be represented, with TCU and USC in position to finish in the top 4 for the very first time in the CFP age. With USC facing Utah on Friday night, the Pac-12 will have the spotlight to itself for the

one time the choice committee watches the games in-person together. Undefeated TCU will attempt to beat K-State for the 2nd time this season, while USC has an opportunity to redeem itself from a regular-season loss to the Utes.For the Buckeyes or Tide to creep back into the discussion, they’re going to need some aid– and history says they could get it. According to ESPN’s Statistics & Details Group, 26 of the previous 32 groups in the leading four in the second-to-last ranking have actually made the CFP. 5 of the 6 that didn’t make it lost in the last weekend.Here’s what the fifth

ranking ways if there are upsets when it matters the most, and how it will affect the committee on Choice Day: Jump to: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35140036/why-latest-college-football-playoff-ranking-matters#anger”> Anger Index|https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35140036/why-latest-college-football-playoff-ranking-matters#bracket”> 12-team bracket|https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35140036/why-latest-college-football-playoff-ranking-matters#resumes”> Résumés | Ohio State is all set to pounce– from their couches– with an upset With Ohio State and Alabama not playing this weekend, their positions aren’t expected to change Sunday. Because the committee deems the Buckeyes better now, they would be the first considered if a team above them loses. The easiest course would be for

USC to lose to Utah, since that would be USC’s 2nd loss to the

Utes this year, making it tough for the committee to validate the Trojans as “unequivocally” among the 4 finest teams in the country. They also aren’t going to reward three-loss Utah, even though the Utes simply won the Pac-12 title. Instead, the door would be open for Ohio State to move into the fourth area. It gets a little trickier, however, if the only upset is TCU losing to K-State … Movement in the top four of the #CFBPlayoff rankings Alabama is the new No. 6 pic.twitter.com/lomOz1eP2K!.?.!— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB)November 30, 2022 What occurs if No. 3 TCU loses?The greatest concern looming is what happens if TCU loses? It would depend in part how the Huge 12 champion unfolds– if K-State were to win convincingly with the committee watching together, it makes it harder for them to keep the Frogs in the leading four and

brings Ohio State back into the discussion. TCU is currently No. 1 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric, though, and it would

have regular-season wins against K-State and No. 20 Texas. Those would be determined against Ohio State’s wins versus No. 8 Penn State and No. 21 Notre Dame. If TCU loses a close game, and USC wins, it’s possible USC goes up to No. 3, and TCU drops to No. 4. TCU’s chances of staying in the top 4 boost if USC also loses, however, just by default. That specific situation would open the door for Alabama to likewise be thought about. And yet … No. 6 Alabama’s hopes are all but snuffed out Henry To’oTo ‘o and Alabama have a possibility at the CFP, however it’s a longshot at finest. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images If Alabama’s hopes are going to be resurrected, it would likely take two lopsided losses by both TCU and USC, however that still doesn’t rule out the possibility of TCU and Ohio State completing in the leading 4. It helped Alabama that No. 24 Mississippi State popped into the fifth ranking, though it was essentially a wash due to the fact that the Bulldogs beat Ole Miss to arrive, which was among Alabama’s much better wins. Alabama’s best win is at No. 20 Texas. The best news for the Tide? They were ranked ahead of both teams they lost to– No. 14 LSU and No. 7 Tennessee.The American title game as de facto New Year’s 6 play-in game The highest-ranked conference champ from a Group of 5 league is guaranteed a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl, which will be decided at 4 p.m. ET Saturday when No. 18 Tulane hosts No. 22 UCF in the American Athletic Championship game game. According to ESPN Analytics, Tulane has a 59 %opportunity to win. Cincinnati fell out today following its 27-24 loss to Tulane on Friday, and 10-2 UTSA stayed unranked, leaving the AAC at the top again. Anger index There’s an especially poignant scene in a Season 5 episode of “The Simpsons,” in which Homer makes a spot aboard the space shuttle due to the fact that his only competitors for the honor got intoxicated on non-alcoholic champagne and flew off using a jet pack.2 Associated NASA manager: Well, Homer. I think you’re the winner by default.Homer: De-fault! The two sweetest words in the English language.Indeed, it needs to’ve been especially sweet for the College Football Playoff committee to enjoy as Ohio State, LSU, Clemson and Oregon each used Week 13

to crack open

some Martinelli’s and head off into the wild, blue yonder. It made their job extremely easy.So, if the leading four is all in place by default, there’s little need for outrage, right? Possibly we simply need to dig a little deeper for today’s Anger Index.1. USC Trojans( ranked fourth )Wait, did

n’t we simply

say the top four was clear? What does USC need to be upset about?The Trojans’ranking is

great. They’re the top-ranked one-loss team. The issue is, with the committee putting Penn State at No. 8, the margin of mistake for USC in the Pac-12 national championship simply diminished substantially.Step back and look at the résumés. USC now has wins over No. 15 Oregon State, No. 17 UCLA and No. 19 Notre Dame. Its lone loss came over a point to No. 12 Utah. That’s a truly solid

sales pitch to the committee.Ohio State’s sales pitch? A less outstanding win over Notre Dame and a roadway victory over Penn State.With both teams 11-1, there’s no concern who must be No. 4.

But assume USC loses again to Utah in the

Pac-12 title game, while Ohio State sits home and watches. What occurs then? Would the committee really penalize the Trojans for playing an extra game and put the Buckeyes into the playoff?The best case for doing that would be basic: Ohio State beat the No. 8 group in the country on the roadway. USC wouldn’t have a win that great. And it might be a valid enough argument, other than for this one small flaw: Who has Penn State beaten? The response is … nobody in this leading 25. The Nittany Lions ‘finest win came in Week 1 versus Purdue in a game in which they tracked into the final minute of

action. Every other team ranked in the leading nine has at least 2 wins over other groups in the top 25.

So, if it boils down to Ohio State’s win over Penn State pressing the Buckeyes into the leading four next week, it’ll be an extremely thin margin that got them there.2. Tennessee Volunteers(ranked seventh) Hendon Hooker’s season-ending injury no doubt contributed in the committee’s ranking. Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports Tennessee beat Alabama. Tennessee beat LSU by 27 points, and LSU also beat Alabama. Tennessee has the same record as Alabama, and both losses were to groups Alabama didn’t have to play (one to the No. 1 group in the nation and one to the No. 19 team in the country ). So, why is it that the Volunteers are still ranked behind Alabama? The committee has actually basically determined the loss of QB Hendon Hooker requires downgrading the Volunteers totally. Considered that Tennessee may have the best backup QB in the nation that appears a vibrant presumption.3. Troy Trojans( unranked)The committee has actually chosen the winner of

the American Athletic championship game will

go to the New Year’s 6, and if the winner is Tulane, it is difficult to refute it. However UCF? A team that lost

to ECU by 21? A team that lost in your home to Navy? A team that needed a goal with 20 seconds to play recently to beat woeful USF? Why exactly are the Knights in severe contention for a New Year’s Six bowl over a Troy group with a better record, a nine-game winning streak, and far more forgivable losses? The Trojans’ only beats can be found in Week 1 against an Ole Miss team that was ranked all season up until this survey, and a road defeat on a last-second Hail Mary at Appalachian State. Meanwhile, Troy has strong wins over Western Kentucky and South Alabama and can include another in the Sun

Belt title game versus Coastal Carolina this week. That Troy isn’t even in the discussion is a huge oversight. How a 12-team playoff would look Everybody with the power to expand the College Football Playoff wants the field to grow to 12 groups in time for the 2024 season.But presently, growth is set up to start in 2026. So while discussions continue how to move up the timeline, we’re having a look at how a 12-team playoff would look today based on the already-determined model released by the commissioners and presidents.The field will be made up of the choice committee’s 6 highest-ranked conference champs and its next six highest-ranked groups. The four highest-ranked conference champs will make the front runners and a first-round bye. The other eight groups will play in the preliminary, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds on campus or at another website of their choice.Here’s what the playoff would look like if the 12-team format were in place today: Seeds with byes 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. TCU 4. USC Remaining seeds(conference champs in strong) 5. Ohio State 6. Alabama 7. Tennessee 8. Penn State 9. Clemson 10. Kansas State 11. Utah 12. Tulane First-round games No. 12 Tulane at

No. 5 Ohio State No. 11 Utah at No. 6 Alabama No. 10 Kansas State at No. 7 Tennessee No. 9 Clemson at No. 8 Penn State Quarterfinal games No. 9 Clemson-No. 8 Penn State winner vs. No. 1 Georgia No. 10 Kansas State-No. 7 Tennessee winner vs. No. 2 Michigan No. 11 Utah-No. 6 Alabama winner vs. No. 3 TCU No. 12 Tulane-No. 5 Ohio State winner vs. No. 4 USC Top 6 résumés No. 1 Georgia Record: 12-0|SOS: 47|SOR: No. 3 Greatest win: Nov. 5 vs. Tennessee Last playoff look: 2022 CFP Championship game, No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18

No. 2 Michigan Michigan’s
win over Ohio State, powered by Donovan Edward’s two

long goal runs

in the 2nd half, put the Wolverines at No. 2 in the CFP ranking. Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Record: 12-0|SOS: 39 |

. SOR: 2 Biggest win: Nov. 26 at Ohio State, 45-23 Last playoff appearance: 2022 Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl No. 3 Georgia 34, No. 2 Michigan
11 No. 3 TCU Record: 12-0|SOS: 35|SOR: 1 Greatest

win: Nov. 12 at Texas,

17-10 Last playoff look: Never No. 4 USC Record: 11-1|SOS: 57|SOR: 6 Greatest

win: Nov. 26 vs. Notre Dame, 38-27 Last playoff appearance: Never No. 5 Ohio State Record: 11-1|SOS: 34|SOR: No. 4 Biggest win: Oct. 29 at Penn State, 44-31 Last playoff look: 2021 CFP National Championship: No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3
Ohio State 24 No. 6 Alabama Record: 10-2|SOS: 8|SOR: 5 Most significant win: Sept. 10 at Texas, 20-19 Last playoff look: 2022 CFP National Championship

: No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18