[ad_1]
In the weirdest season in the modern era of college football, it’s only fitting that the top five teams in the top varsity football playoff standings have played eight games (two), seven games, six games and four games.
Hello, 2020.
This should give you an idea of the relevance of these rankings. There’s a long way to go, and COVID issues show little sign of slowing down (we’ve already had nine games affected this weekend and it’s Tuesday).
So who knows if some of these top teams will actually complete the rest of their schedules. We know that any Pac-12 champion will have, at most, only seven games played, and a Big Ten champion Ohio State will have, at most, played eight games. We know the SEC is scrambling to reschedule missed games with its division chiefs, Alabama and Florida, and we know the Big 12, each of their teams struggling with at least two losses, are out of action ( but hey, it’s 2020; there is no certainty).
USA TODAY NETWORK
The rankings have taught us several things. For example, the Committee is not a fan of BYU, which registers at No.14. It loves Cincinnati, at No.7, and it respects the Aggies’ victory over the Gators on the field (they are No.5 and No. 6 respectively).
But enough about what the Committee did. Pat Forde and I offered a ranking analysis in the form of six burning questions.
Who is ranked too high?
Pat Forde: Georgia. The Bulldogs are the highest ranked team with two losses in 9th, despite the two solid losses beaten by an average of 16.5 points. The only notable victory was over Auburn, which should be ranked as quite good but far from excellent. Georgia didn’t even pass the eye test, struggling most of the offensive season and barely passing a two-game Mississippi State team last Saturday.
Ross Dellenger: And Oklahoma? At 11th, the Sooners are the second-highest ranked team with two losses. OU has losses at 4–4 in Kansas State and an Iowa State team that the Committee actually has behind the Sooners. Sure, OU has been playing a decent ball lately, but if you look at the overall work, it looks like at least the Cyclones should be ranked above the Sooners.
Who is ranked too low?
Forde: BYU. Wow, the undefeated and dominant Cougars disrespected No.14. Yes, the schedule is weaker than a cocktail in a Provo bar, but they are a team that passed the eye test with flying colors. BYU is explosive offensively, solid defensively, and has the country’s largest average margin of victory at 33.7. The Cougars also have a big advantage of 3.14 yards per play over their opponents to date. (Alabama, by comparison, is over 2.78 yards per game.) The message is clear: If the Cougars want to progress, they better schedule another game in the next two weeks. “Great motivation for our guys,” coach Kalani Sitake said during the ESPN standings. “… We have two weeks open, and if there is someone available to play, we will.”
Dellenger: BYU is, indeed, the obvious here, but for the sake of variety, let’s spotlight another team that deserves a higher ranking: Oregon. Sure, the Ducks have only played three games, but we know the talent of this team. # 15 looks awfully low. The real problem for UO: It might not get much better from here. None of Oregon’s last three regular season opponents are ranked. The Ducks will need to win in style and hope that the Pac-12 South winner has a good CV (it’s probably Colorado or USC).
What did the committee do well?
Forde: Ranking # 3 Clemson ahead of # 4 Ohio State. A close call, but the Tigers’ only loss came without their best player, and frankly the best player in college football – and it happened in double overtime on the road. Clemson (7-1) also blew up Miami’s number 10. The Ohio State schedule was really weak heading into Indiana on Saturday, which was a seven-point victory. And the Buckeyes have only played three games so far.
Dellenger: Not only did the CFP get the top four accurate, but it also showed proper respect for both Cincinnati and the SEC. The Bearcats are in 7th place, the highest of any Group of Five team in ranking history. Meanwhile, Texas A&M and Florida rank 5th and 6th respectively, giving the league the opportunity to bring two teams into the PSC. Oh and their choice of Clemson at # 3, above Ohio State, also makes sense. The Tigers’ only loss was without star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and Ohio State has played only half of Clemson’s games.
Which Power 5 conference is in the best shape?
Forde: The SEC, as it always has been. The league has four in the top 10, three in the top six and the No. 1 team, Alabama. There is definitely a way to get two SEC teams on the field of four.
Dellenger: ACC. With Clemson at # 3 and Notre Dame at # 2, the ACC is set up to bring the two programs into the CFP with a, big if: A Clemson led by Trevor Lawrence must beat Notre Dame, but not beat the Irish too much. This could very well get them both into the CFP. However, the ACC would need the SEC to cooperate. The Irishman in a loss could face a Texas A&M in a loss, Alabama in a loss or Florida in a loss depending on the outcome of the SEC Championship game.
Which regular season game will have the biggest impact on the playoff race?
Forde: No.7 Cincinnati at No.25 Tulsa, December 12. The fact that the Golden Hurricane entered the standings is a lift for the Bearcats as it increases the importance of their game in Tulsa to end the regular season. Cincinnati is having a great season, but the demise of UCF, Memphis, Houston and SMU as potentially ranked teams leaves Cincy in need of a standout win on the CV.
DellengerQ .: If not for regular season qualifying, the answer here is the SEC Championship game, which will likely serve as the PSC quarterfinal again. But in the regular season? We will go with a game this week: Notre Dame in North Carolina. It could be the Irishman’s toughest test until a potential confrontation with Clemson in the ACC Championship game.
What’s your top four?
Forde: 1. Alabama, 2. Notre Dame, 3. Clemson, 4. State of Ohio.
Dellenger: 1. Alabama, 2. Notre Dame, 3. Clemson, 4. State of Ohio.
[ad_2]
Source link