When one team falls out, another takes its place. But college football’s rivalry week didn’t make it very easy to figure out who will replace Mississippi State in the top four. We have one week remaining before all of the games are complete and the College Football Playoff committee releases its final, actually meaningful poll.
Until then, we guess.
Here are this week’s power rankings.
Alabama won its shootout against Auburn in the Iron Bowl by scoring five consecutive second half touchdowns. This week’s game in the SEC Championship against Missouri should be a bit less stressful.
Oregon looks like a complete team, but they still have a date with Arizona in the Pac-12 title game. The Ducks’ only loss of the season came to Arizona at home.
TCU still has to play Iowa State and it still has the loss to Baylor hanging over its head. We’ll see how much the committee cares about head-to-head results.
Florida State survived the state of Florida as it sent the Gators on their way and Will Muschamp into his brief unemployment. The Seminoles are still undefeated but Georgia Tech awaits in this weekend’s ACC Championship game. Can they squeak out one more win?
Ohio State eventually beat Michigan in “The Game,” but it wasn’t without a key casualty. Quarterback J.T. Barrett had to be carted off with a broken right ankle and is out for the season. Ohio State still plays Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game with its third string quarterback (the Buckeyes lost starter Braxton Miller before the season even began) and we get to see how much the committee really cares about injuries.
Baylor has one of its biggest games of the season Saturday against Kansas State. This is the Bears’ chance to show their worth, and with a statement win over the Wildcats, they could finally jump TCU.
Arizona has beaten Oregon the last two times the teams played — this season and last. Now the Wildcats have a chance to make it a three-peat, win the Pac-12, and ruin Oregon’s playoff hopes.
Michigan State is on the outside looking in for the Big Ten title game with Wisconsin playing Ohio State. The Spartans’ only losses are to the Buckeyes and Oregon, but a two-loss team isn’t making the final four.
Kansas State has another chance to crush dreams. Baylor is not a lock for the playoff at all, but a loss against Kansas State on Saturday would be a terrible blow to the Big 12’s hopes.
Georgia Tech did the unthinkable and beat Georgia in overtime. Now it can play spoiler to Florida State and win the ACC in the process. Most of the country will be Yellow Jackets fans this weekend.
