Five College Football Playoff questions that need answers after first set of rankings

The Faculty Soccer Playoff committee unveiled the primary set of rankings Tuesday, and there have been no questions in any respect.

Simply kidding. The committee left some attention-grabbing debates, beginning with the highest 4. Alabama (7-Zero) and Notre Dame (Eight-Zero) maintain the highest two spots, however Clemson (7-1) is ranked forward of Ohio State (Four-Zero).

MORE: Complete Week 13 CFP rankings

Why? That is simply one among our 5 large questions from the primary set of rankings:

Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings questions

Why is Clemson ranked forward of Ohio State?

There is a little bit of TV trolling at work right here. The Tigers have a victory towards No. 10 Miami. The Buckeyes have a victory towards No. 12 Indiana. Clemson has a bigger pattern measurement, but additionally has a loss to No. 2 Notre Dame.

The committee might need unnecessarily boxed themselves in right here, even when the Tigers beat the Irish within the rematch. Ohio State might go undefeated, however the perfect win left on the schedule is No. Eight Northwestern (5-Zero) — a crew that controls its personal future for a Playoff spot. The stakes might be increased between the Buckeyes and Wildcats than they had been within the 2018 Large Ten championship sport.

The seeding will work itself out, however at this juncture the Buckeyes ought to be ranked increased. Anticipate the committee to fall again on the “every week is a clean slate” mantra that will get used so usually if the groups find yourself switching spots.

Can two SEC groups make the Playoff?

Primarily based on the precedent set with Clemson and Notre Dame — and understanding 4 SEC groups are ranked within the high 10 — it is attainable.

Assuming each the Tigers and Irish win out within the common season, No. 5 Florida might beat Alabama within the SEC championship sport. If the sport is an on the spot traditional between Heisman contenders Mac Jones and Kyle Trask, then it is attainable that each the Gators and Crimson Tide each snag a spot (although Alabama would wish assist, with groups comparable to Ohio State, Oregon and Cincinnati dropping).

No. 6 Texas A&M is also ranked excessive sufficient, however possible will not benefit from a SEC championship sport look. The Aggies have to be over-the-top-impressive down the stretch towards LSU, No. 22 Auburn and Tennessee. Texas A&M wants both Clemson or Notre Dame to lose twice, and it is higher if Florida loses to Alabama in Atlanta.

Why is Cincinnati thus far forward of BYU?

That is a great query. The groups are separated by one spot within the AP Prime 25 and Coaches Ballot, with the Bearcats at No. 7 and the Cougars at No. Eight.

Cincinnati held the identical spot within the CFP rankings, and their path to the Playoff is open with the help we outlined last weekend. The Bearcats should win out, want Clemson or Notre Dame to lose twice and hope Alabama and Ohio State take the primary two spots. That will create a compelling argument with Texas A&M for the final spot, and the committee may be open to favoring the Bearcats.

BYU is in bother at No. 14. The committee is not shopping for the energy of schedule, and that is not the Cougars’ fault, given the COVID-19 impression on their unbiased standing. Nonetheless, No. 14 is just too low. BYU has one sport left on the schedule towards San Diego State. Would there be a top-10 crew on the market keen to tackle BYU?

Cincinnati won’t choose up the telephone, given the distinction within the rankings. If that Clemson-Florida State sport would not get performed, may we provide this various?

MORE: Kirk Herbstreit talks Playoff scenarios, makes final picks

Can the Pac-12 problem for the Playoff?

Energy 5 conferences are usually given a one-loss mulligan, however the Large Ten and Pac-12 may be held to a harder customary given the shorter schedules these conferences are enjoying.

That is why No. 15 Oregon and No. 18 USC want one another to win out forward of the Pac-12 championship sport. If each groups go 6-Zero within the common season — that may imply no COVID-19 postponements the following three weeks — then that stage is feasible.

Would a 7-Zero Pac-12 champion be worthy of that fourth spot? Leaving them out may be exhausting to do at that time. That mentioned, there isn’t any margin for error for the Geese or Trojans, and elegance factors will matter down the stretch.

Which two-loss crew remains to be alive within the Playoff?

No. 9 Georgia is the highest-ranked two-loss crew, however the Bulldogs have little upside with the losses to Alabama and Florida. Georgia is not going to benefit from the SEC championship sport highlight, both.

No. 11 Oklahoma, nevertheless, is on a roll after early-season losses to No. 13 Iowa State and Kansas State. The Sooners aren’t any stranger to the late-season Playoff run, and it would not damage if the Cyclones beat No. 17 Texas on Black Friday. Oklahoma nonetheless feels just like the crew that may win the Large 12 championship, which might be its sixth straight convention title. A Playoff berth nonetheless appears unlikely given, no two-loss crew has cracked the four-team area.

You understand what we’ll say subsequent.

It is 2020. There are 4 units of rankings left. Something can occur, proper?