College Football

No one ever pretended that the College Football Playoff rankings that would set a four-team field to contend for the national championship would be perfect.

What are the criteria? What sets one team with an 11-1 record above another? How much do conference championships count?

So here’s our problem. The second-to-last rankings released Tuesday night have Alabama (12-0) first, Ohio State (11-1) second, Clemson (11-1) third and Washington (11-1) fourth. Big Ten schools also occupy fifth place (Michigan, 10-2), sixth (Wisconsin, 10-2) and seventh (Penn State, 10-2).

Alabama will play for the SEC championship. Clemson will play for the ACC championship. Washington will play for the Pac-12 championship. If each of them wins, they should certainly hold on to their place in the top four.

But Ohio State? The Buckeyes are home for the weekend. Wisconsin and Penn State will play for the Big Ten title. What happens now? If Penn State wins, it’s still a two-loss time but it’s the Big Ten champ and the only team to beat Ohio State. Don’t expect the committee to put a two-loss team in the top four. And yet, whether Wisconsin or Penn State is snubbed for Ohio State, they will be snubbed for a team that did not win its conference or even its division.

There’s going to be some unhappiness somewhere – or several somewheres – when the final rankings are released. Michigan lost one game by a point on a last-second field goal and the other by three in overtime to Ohio State. Are the Wolverines really not one of the nation’s four best teams? Can the committee risk dissing Washington to keep Ohio State and/or Michigan and/or the Big Ten champ (especially if it is Wisconsin)?

Argue amongst yourselves. Let me know how you work this out.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman