Joe Thomas denies rumored trade request
November 10, 2015Seven Straight: Cavs-Jazz, Behind the Box Score
November 10, 2015We knew someone had to win when No. 2 LSU visited No. 4 Alabama last Saturday. The only questions were 1) who and 2) how it would affect the College Football Playoff Poll. We learned the first answer, Alabama, in Tuscaloosa and the second answer, wildly, Tuesday night when the season’s second CFP poll was released.
Six undefeated teams remain, five of them from Power 5 conferences. There are a slew of one-loss teams all claiming they deserve a position of prominence in the top four. So how does the committee regard the nation’s college football teams?
No. 1 Seed: Clemson Tigers
No. 2 Seed: Alabama Crimson Tide
No. 3 Seed: Ohio State Buckeyes
No. 4 Seed: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Clemson strengthened their resume with a victory over No. 16 Florida State on Saturday. The Tigers have an open road to the ACC title game ahead of them. Ohio State did not drop any jaws in their 28-14 victory over Minnesota, but the key word there is “victory.” A lack of wins over ranked opponents hinders the Bucks now but a backloaded schedule — potentially finishing against ranked Michigan State, Michigan, and maybe Iowa in the Big Ten championship — should bolster their playoff bona fides. Alabama’s triumph over LSU secures them in the top four, and their position at No. 2 seems consistent with what the committee has valued so far. Someone needed to fill in for the Bayou Bengals and right now Notre Dame occupies that final position.
The Next Four:
5. Iowa Hawkeyes
6. Baylor Bears
7. Stanford Cardinal
8. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Any of the above teams could still catapult into the playoff discussion come December. Remember that a major deciding factor for the committee is whether or not a team wins its conference. That could help out several contenders, but the lack of hardware may come to haunt independent Notre Dame.
18 Comments
This committee is full of feckless BOOBS!
The rankings should be:
1. JT Barrett buckeyes
2. Cardale buckeyes
3. Buckeye scout team
4. 2016 buckeye recruiting class
IDIOTS!
Honestly they are lucky to be in the top 4 period.
I… uh…..wait, what?
The previous year’s National Champion.
The longest winning streak in the country.
Undefeated in the regular season.
Playing in a Power 5 conference.
What about that doesn’t allow them in the Top 4?
They look bad against average and weak teams. If they play like that the last two weeks of the season they will lose. If they win out I will gladly eat my words. Maybe they are just bored and cruising through the season.
No eating of words necessary as I agree totally in that they win out and they are in.
A loss sets them out looking in for sure.
I just didn’t understand how at current value you could possibly leave them out of the top 4.
I disagree. I’m okay with not being #1 but the undefeated defending National Champions must be in the top 4, period. Regardless the real season is about to begin for the Buckeyes. Michigan State, the other team up north and then the Big 10 Tournament. If the Buckeyes come out of this undefeated they will be higher then #3.
You can’t and that’s why it hasn’t happened.
Anything before this season started shouldn’t count in any way.
Then strength of schedule gets completely thrown of the window.
As long as you’re okay with that then we’re good.
That doesn’t make any sense to me. That Ohio St’s schedule this season is ranked 68th by Sagarin, lower than any other team in contention but Baylor, should play a factor.
If nothing done prior to the year counts then everyone starts at 0.
Nobody is stronger than anyone therefore rendering strength of schedule moot.
SOS is based on 2015 results, no history involved preceeding it.
It’s all irrelevant because these rankings mean nothing until the last week of the season. If tOSU doesn’t absolutely manhandle the Illini, I wouldn’t be surprised if the committee drops them out of the top 4 next week.
All these weekly rankings do right now is generate press, discussion and argument about the process. That’s the only purpose I can see. And removing the Bucks would get A LOT of people talking about these stupid, meaningless lists. And hey – why not give the Buckeyes a little extra motivation to prove themselves?!
And then we start adding games this year, and taking into account the results, which gives us a strength of schedule.
It is all irrelevant, but the comments from the committee make it seem like they’re trying to find any and every reason to keep Ohio St in. They won’t be falling out unless they lose.
Last week they were talking about wins over teams over .500, but for Ohio St, two of those three are N Illinois and W Michigan.
This week the reason Ohio St made the top four is “a team that hasn’t played it’s best yet”. Which may certainly be true, but I have no idea how that’s an argument that they’re worthy of the top four at the moment.
Agreed that it is indeed the talking engine for the CFP to build it’s momentum.
I would like to see a straight answer from them why Ohio State is above Iowa at the moment. I believe they are better and they will get the chance to prove it on the field (if they are CFP entrants they have to beat MSU & UM), so it’s a moot point, but it’s still a curiosity.
Because even as witless as this committee is, even they know that the Invincible State University of Ohio could trot out their cheerleaders and destroy Iowa.
Just give them the trophy already. NOW!!