College Football Breakdown

The third iteration of the College Football Playoff reflects the weekend losses by some top contenders and the ascent to the top spot by Alabama.

Sure, Alabama was criticized for the close nature of its 24-17 victory over Mississippi State on the road, but a win is a win and the Crimson Tide have 10 of them, against no defeats.

Clemson (9-1) moved up from fourth to second, Alabama’s former spot. Bama, of course, replaced Georgia (9-1), which got hammered on the road by Auburn. Why would the committee put a team with one loss at No. 2, especially with that loss being to a 4-6 Syracuse team? Well, Clemson has beaten six teams with winning records.

Miami (9-0), seventh a week ago, is now third after destroying Notre Dame (8-2). The Irish slid from third to eighth, one spot behind Georgia, which lost more ground than Notre Dame. Miami and Clemson will play for the ACC championship Dec. 2.

Wisconsin (10-0) just keeps winning and creeping northward in the rankings to fifth from eighth, but still sits behind Oklahoma (8-1), which keeps winning dazzling shootouts. Auburn (8-2) is sixth. It’s hard to argue with Oklahoma, which beat Ohio State on the road and has knocked off Oklahoma State and TCU in recent weeks.

The CFP committee will issue three more sets of rankings – on the next two Tuesdays and then Sunday, Dec. 3, to set the two semifinal games and the New Year’s Day bowls.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman