After the College Football Playoff Selection Committee released their current top four teams for the playoffs on Tuesday, Dec. 2, pending a relatively large upset, the playoff teams seem set. If all things remained, the top four would be Alabama at one, Oregon at two, Texas Christian University (TCU) at three, and Florida State (FSU) at four.
Many people have expressed their discontent with the new rankings, mainly for three reasons. Firstly, FSU is the only undefeated team left in College Football, and yet three one lose teams have jumped them in the standings. Secondly, TCU is 10-1, and the only team that beat them is number five Baylor, who is also 10-1. They both play in the Big Twelve and Baylor is leading the conference standing, so why would TCU be ahead of Baylor? Thirdly, Ohio State played with their backup quarterback all year, but they are 11-1. In their game against Michigan, however, they lost their backup QB with a broken ankle, and the Selection Committee can factor in injuries into their seeding decisions. But some still think that the Buckeyes should be in the top four over TCU.
I, for one, am quite satisfied with the new system and the new rankings. I like that Ohio State has been kept out of the top four for two reasons: one being their horrible loss to Virginia Tech, at home, and the other being their injury to J.T. Barrett. I also like the FSU is not number one simply because they are undefeated, considering they have had a relatively easy schedule, and struggled with that. I believe that they should be in the top four, no matter what, if they finish undefeated, but being number one should not be handed to them.
The Baylor-TCU situation is iffy to me. It depends on how Baylor plays against number nine Kansas State on Saturday, Dec. 6. I think that without a doubt one of the two will be in the top four, even if that means Baylor jumping Ohio State in the rankings.
The final week of the season could ultimately decide a lot of things. If there are some upsets within the top four teams, we could see a team like Ohio State sneak into the playoffs as the fourth seed.
