No doubt Corey, the #1 ranked team in the first stage, has never won the playoff either. That should be the challenge by Coach Day to the Buckeyes!
Yes, we know right now that 2 of the top 4 will have at least one loss by Thanksgiving, and right now there are 4 one loss teams (soon to be 6) in the top 10. So we could have 3 undefeated teams at the end. Also Minnesota could still be a spoiler. They are not in the top 10 but the will be if they win out. Baylor too, if they beat Oklahoma.
Ohio State will likely not be #1 after this weekend. Clemson has a lock on being in the final top 4 if they take care of business. For the current top 4 teams...the playoffs start now.
Last years 1st CFP rankings: Ended up with 3 of the 4 being the same as the final. Only LSU fell out and was replaced by OU. LSU lost the very next weekend and Georgia lost in the SEC Championship game and Michigan was hammered by Ohio State. Ohio State's loss to Purdue vs OU's close loss to Texas was a big factor and they were also behind a 2 loss Georgia team because of it. RK TEAM REC TREND 1 Alabama 8-0 NR 2 Clemson 8-0 NR 3 LSU 7-1 NR 4 Notre Dame 8-0 NR 5 Michigan 7-1 NR 6 Georgia 7-1 NR 7 Oklahoma 7-1 NR 8 Washington State 7-1 NR 9 Kentucky 7-1 NR 10 Ohio State 7-1
Well I don't think there will be much drama tonight over the top 3. It has to be LSU, Ohio State and Clemson. The 4th slot will be where the drama is. Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Utah, OU. are the top 1 loss teams right now. Where will the committee put Minnesota. They zoomed up the AP rankings to #7. Georgia has a better schedule than Alabama, but Alabama has a better loss. I won't be surprised though if Georgia ends up the 4th team and Alabama 5th and Minnesota 6th with Oregon, Utah, OU and Baylor rounding out the top 10. Baylor not getting the boost that Minnesota got because while still undefeated they have a bunch of close wins. Of course Baylor now has the opportunity to get that big win that vaults them up the ladder as OU comes to Waco this weekend. 1. LSU 2. Ohio State 3. Clemson 4. Georgia 5. Alabama 6. Minnesota 7. Oregon 8. Utah 9. OU 10. Baylor
I honestly don't know who number 4 should be. Corey made a comment about the "SEC gauntlet" but I'm not sure if there is a gauntlet in college football this year. Clemson looks like they will complete an undefeated season this year without playing a single team in the top 25.
KP, Yeah that's what I get for watching TV to kill the time between appointments today. Your thoughts are similar to mine.
some things will be cleared up over Nov. I think both Baylor and Minn are likely to get their 1st loss, Baylor this weekend and maybe even Minn going to Iowa. Then either Oregon or Utah will get a loss for sure if they both make it to the Pac 12 Championship game. So that's 3 of the top 10 with a loss coming IMHO. Can Georgia hang on against Auburn on the plains. Auburn could be a big spoiler for the SEC. I can't see them beating both Georgia and Alabama..but that's exactly what they did 2 years ago.
Minnesota can actually afford to lose a game now because their potential remaining SOS would be so strong. Provided they win the B1G.
Certainly no qualms about LSU jumping over the Buckeyes in week 2 picks by the playoff committee. If we are fortunate enough to make it to the championship game, I would love to see us meet LSU! That would be a very interesting contest.
If LSU and Georgia play in the SEC Champ game and LSU wins, and Oregon or Utah wins out impressively I could certainly see them taking that 4th slot from Alabama. Being a Conf champ plus having a win over a top 10 opponent would be key. Buttttttttttttttttt....what if Auburn beats UGA? They will jump into the top 10 and then Alabama would have a shot at a top 10 win. That 4th slot is likely to be very controversial.