The Ben Ten - Eighth Edition

Editor's Note: The Ben Ten is my attempt to put together the Top 10 teams (plus three) as of right now. Each week, I play the role of solo Playoff Committee member and submit my own ballot.

It was status quo for the Top 4 after a closer-than-expected rivalry weekend. Behind that, multiple changes. Championship Weekend is upon us, so let's see how they stack up at the top before the final rankings are released next week.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are locked in to the top spot again.
(Photo courtesy TigerNet.com)

1) Clemson (12-0)

Previously: 1
Clemson closed out the regular season with a second consecutive win over in-state rival South Carolina. Deshaun Watson was healthy all year and because of that, the Tigers are 12-0 for the first time since 1981. Clemson faces surging North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game Saturday night in Charlotte.

2) Iowa (12-0)

Previously: 2
The Hawkeyes are the only other unbeaten team in the FBS, having secured their 12th win with a 28-20 victory at Nebraska. Iowa has quality wins on its schedule, but not a signature one. That could come against Michigan State in the Big Ten title game this weekend in Indianapolis.

3) Oklahoma (11-1)

Previously: 3
Baker Mayfield has the Sooners offense rolling. Behind the ground attack of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, Oklahoma has reeled off seven impressive wins in a row, the latter three coming against ranked teams Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State - two of which were on the road. Oklahoma is the outright Big 12 champion and awaits the final CFB Playoff Poll to find out its fate.

4) Alabama (11-1)

Previously: 4
Alabama survived its trip to the Plains for the Iron Bowl. The Tide have a wrecking ball at running back in Derrick Henry and he gashed Auburn's defense to the tune of 271 yards on 46 carries. Now, Alabama faces Florida for the SEC championship in Atlanta. The Gators are coming off a 27-2 defeat at home at the hands of Florida State. 

Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Alabama in the Capital One Orange Bowl;  Iowa vs. Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee factors in many variables and does its best to send the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.

5) Michigan State (11-1)
Previously: 7
The Spartans emphatically defeated Penn State, 55-16, to clinch the Big Ten East Division and a matchup with Iowa in Indy. Connor Cook looked healthy over the weekend and that gives MSU a big advantage in the B1G Championship. Michigan State has wins over Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State, and would solidify its place in the Top 4 by knocking off currently undefeated Iowa.

6) North Carolina (11-1)
Previously: 8
Outside of Clemson and Iowa, there's only one team with 10-plus wins in a row ... that'd be North Carolina, which has 11 straight wins. The Tar Heels went up 35-7 in the first quarter over rival NC State on their way to a 45-34 win. UNC finished conference play 8-0 and set up one of the most intriguing championship games of the weekend against No. 1 Clemson. Can the Heels reach the Playoff with a win?

7) Ohio State (11-1)

Previously: 10

After looking offensively challenged against Michigan State, the Buckeyes bounced back and looked most dominant at Michigan in a 42-13 victory. The only question with this team is, where was that all year? Had the Buckeyes been that impressive, there'd be no questioning their ranking - and they might not have fallen to Michigan State. What could have been...

8) Stanford (10-2)
Previously: NR
Kevin Hogan and the Cardinal went blow-for-blow with Notre Dame and got in the last punch to knock off the Irish, 38-36. The win boosted Stanford's chances to reach the Playoff, should there be chaos at the top. In the Pac-12 Championship, Stanford will face four-loss USC, a team it beat way back in September, 41-31.

9) Florida State (10-2)
Previously: NR
Florida State's Dalvin Cook might be the most underrated running back in college. Cook carried the ball 26 times for 183 yards and two scores in helping FSU defeat the Gators in front of the largest crowd ever at The Swamp, 27-2. The Noles await the final poll for their destination - likely a NY6 Bowl.

10) Notre Dame (10-2)

Previously: 5

The Irish claim to fame right now? Two road losses to Top 10 teams by two points each. Notre Dame had its six-game winning streak snapped with a heart-breaking loss at Stanford and now has lost by two points to the Cardinal and Clemson. The problem is, other than a home win against USC, that's about all ND has to crow about. Still, the Irish are in a good position and will probably end up in the Fiesta Bowl

Next three up:

TCU (10-2)
In the cold and driving rain, TCU found a way in double OT to take down Baylor and come away 1-2 in its big November games. The Horned Frogs positioned themselves to grab a top-tier bowl game, but losing star receiver Josh Doctson (for the season) and quarterback Trevone Boykin (missed 1.5 games) ended championship hopes for Gary Patterson's squad.

Baylor (9-2)
Like TCU, the Bears went 1-2 during their three-game swoon against the Big 12's best. And like TCU, it was injuries that did Baylor wrong. Quarterback Seth Russell was sorely missed in losses to OU and TCU. Baylor still has one game to play, a home game against Texas, to try to reach double-digit wins for the fourth time in the last five seasons. It appears the Bears would be headed to the Sugar Bowl, but that is not certain.
 
Oregon (9-3)
The Ducks have to be wondering what this season could've been if Vernon Adams Jr. stayed healthy. Oregon has won six straight since his return to the lineup and the offense looks lethal, almost like when Heisman winner Marcus Mariota led the Ducks. Oregon could land in the Alamo Bowl against one of the Big 12 powers.

Dropped out:
Baylor (6) and Oklahoma State (9)

-BtW

The Morning After...

Deshaun Watson helped Clemson complete an undefeated regular season
by knocking off in-state rival South Carolina, 37-32.
(Photo courtesy TheClemsonInsider.com)

1) State champs. Again. Another 365 days of bragging rights for the Clemson faithful (actually 366 because next year is Leap Year - you're welcome!). It doesn't matter if it's by one or 50. A win over your arch-rival is never disappointing. It's even better when it's on their home field. I hope South Carolina fans enjoyed their little five-year run. We've taken back our state. Some call it a rivalry. We call it domination. 67-42-4.

2) Turnovers have become a theme for Clemson lately, and not in a good way. Three fumbles yesterday by the top three offensive players nearly cost the Tigers dearly. When Dabo Swinney tells the media the "coach-speak" saying of "We can't beat ourselves," this is what he means. Had Clemson not turned it over and had the Tigers scored on just two of those three drives, this would've been a blow out instead of coming down to the final few minutes. Dabo said postgame, "When we win the turnover margin, we're going to kill somebody." He's right.

3) Disappointed in the defensive effort. After poor performances against NC State and Syracuse, Brent Venables lit into the defense and the unit responded with a solid showing against Wake Forest. However, they backtracked against South Carolina, allowing over 400 yards and the most points the Gamecocks scored all season. Big chunk plays continue to be an issue. With high-flying North Carolina on deck, those need to get corrected immediately. Or, it could be a long night in Charlotte.

4) Deshaun Watson probably won't win the Heisman Trophy this year, but he deserves to be in New York City when they hand out the hardware. I get that Derrick Henry has been a beast for Alabama and his best games have come when the Tide have played on a national stage. I get that Baker Mayfield - more on him in a minute - has been a human highlight reel week in and week out. But Watson, a sophomore, has played with poise when it mattered most and shown Tiger fans and the rest of the country how to lead a team desperate not to fall back into the days of "Clemsoning." All preseason the narrative was Clemson would have a chance IF Watson remained healthy. Well, he's been healthy for all 12 games. And Clemson has a chance to do something special. To think he's only 17 games into his career - just over a season and half, officially as a starter - and he's 16-1 in those games is remarkable. Did I mention he's only a sophomore?

5) Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners blasted the Oklahoma State Cowboys. A 30-point second quarter was all OU needed in a 58-23 Bedlam Bombardment. Mayfield finished with just 180 yards passing and 77 yards rushing, but accounted for three TDs. Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, the Sooners' two-headed monster at running back, ran wild with 267 yards and four TDs combined. The win clinched the outright Big 12 title for Oklahoma, its ninth - all under Bob Stoops. It very well may have clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff. The final rankings are Dec. 6 and the Sooners, who are finished playing games for now, are sure to be in the Top 4.

5B) I'm just gonna leave this right here... This is Oklahoma State.

6) Rivalry week lived up to its billing. There were many close calls, a few upsets, smiles and tears, and trophies both remaining on the same sideline and being taken away to their new homes. In-state battles provided those living within its borders a chance to gleam for the next year. Border clashes provided state teams and their fans the right to crow to their neighboring brethren. No other sport on the planet comes close to college football and the rivalries created between friends, neighbors and families. To the victors, enjoy the spoils. To the, um, losers, there's always next year.

7) There were three games over the weekend that provided even more clarity for the playoff picture. No. 7 Baylor fell to No. 19 TCU Friday night, knocking the Bears out of contention. That meant the winner between No. 3 OU and No. 11 OSU would clinch the Big 12 and have the conference's best chance at cracking the Top 4. OU did that and should be in Dallas or Miami New Year's Eve. The third was No. 9 Stanford hosting No. 6 Notre Dame.

The game lived up to its billing and was a lot of fun to watch. Back-and-forth all game, the Irish looked to secure the victory with a touchdown with 30 seconds remaining to go ahead 36-35. Kevin Hogan marched the Cardinal down the field to set up a game-winning field goal as time expired for the 38-36 win. Notre Dame has now lost on the road to two Top 10 teams by two points each. What the Irish lack is a signature win. Brian Kelly deserves a ton of credit for managing an injury-plagued roster and giving the Irish a chance to win every game. Still, Notre Dame likely ends up in a New Year's Six Bowl. Meanwhile, Stanford takes on USC, which beat crosstown rival UCLA, in the Pac-12 title game and hopes for chaos in the ACC, Big Ten and SEC.

8) Ohio State bounced back from its loss to Michigan State by trouncing rival Michigan in the Big House. The Buckeyes somehow are still in the hunt for a Playoff berth if chaos does take place. With Nos. 6 and 7 falling, it's very likely OSU moves to sixth with the loser of the Big Ten championship (Michigan State vs. Iowa) falling behind the Buckeyes in the final poll. That means Ohio State would need at least one upset in the ACC or SEC title games, maybe both. If Clemson and Alabama win, the Top 4 will be set - Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Iowa/Michigan State.

9) Quick hitters: Speaking of Sparty, MSU thrashed Penn State 55-16 en route to clinching the Big Ten East Division, setting up the matchup with Iowa next week. ... Florida's offense was MIA in a 27-2 loss to Florida State. The Seminoles could move up into the Top 10 with several teams ahead of them losing. Florida now must figure out a way to score against Alabama, or the SEC Championship will be a one-sided affair. ... Houston and Temple will duke it out for the AAC Championship next weekend. The unranked Cougars knocked off Navy 52-31, while No. 25 Temple defeated UConn 27-3. The winner potentially will be the highest ranked Group of 5 team and will earn a NY6 Bowl berth.  ... Les Miles was going to be fired. Then, he wasn't. Then, he probably was. And sometime during a 19-7 win over Texas A&M, the powers that be decided he wasn't, though, they didn't say anything and Miles was carried off the field on the shoulders of LSU players. He sang the alma mater on SEC Network, then answered the sideline reporter's questions about what that game meant to him. Then, he found out before the postgame press conference that he would continue to be LSU's coach for the foreseeable future. A non-story story because why not?

10) The Tigers are on the doorstep of history. A chance at 13 wins, something no Clemson team has every accomplished. The Tar Heels are riding an 11-game winning streak and look to spruce up their résumé with a win over the top-ranked team. The ACC Championship Game means something for the first time and it will be an epic battle. Beat North Carolina.


-BtW

'Twas the night before the Palmetto Bowl - 2015 Edition

It is tradition in my family - roughly half Clemson, half South Carolina fans - that the winning team from the previous year writes a "'Twas the night before" poem with regards to the Clemson-Carolina football game. Well, it's been six long years since I had that chance for my side of the family. Enjoy!

(Photo courtesy TigerNet.com)

'Twas the night before the Palmetto Bowl and Spurrier could not be found.
For he quit on the Gamecocks midseason, knowing they wouldn't be bowl bound.
The helmets were hung in the locker rooms with care
In hopes that tailgating and football soon would fill the air.

The players were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of touchdowns danced in their heads.
And Dabo in his sweatshirt, and Brent with his cap
Ready to send the Gamecocks on their way to a long winter's nap.

When gameday arrived the fans came in a swarm
Waving their white towels to the tune of 'Sandstorm.'
Away from the tunnel, Dabo led his troops
With the eye of the Tiger ready to put the chickens back in their coops.

The coin flipped at high noon and the Tigers won the toss.
They deferred to the second half and let the defense show Carolina who's boss.
Perry Orth knew Pharoh Cooper was pretty awesome
But he was about to be sacked again by Shaq Lawson.

Deshaun Watson took over with two healthy legs this time
He glanced across the field behind his offensive line.
More rapid than eagles, his playmakers they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now Gallman! Now Scott!
Block for them Mac Lain!
On, Ray-Ray! On, Peake!
On Leggett and Cain!
Across the goal line! Hold onto the ball!
A touchdown for you, a touchdown for you, a touchdown for all!"

Just like they did to the Hurricanes in Miami
Clemson marched up and down the field with a fury.
So up to the line of scrimmage they stood
With the Wayne Train on the tracks ready to bring the wood.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard from the booth,
"South Carolina is terrible, and that's the cold hard truth."
As I pumped my first while the first half ended
My Gamecock Facebook crowd told me I would be unfriended.

Dabo addressed the team saying the halftime score didn't matter
But he paused for a moment when he heard such a clatter.
The Garnet and Black faithful were exiting Williams-Brice loudly
While Tiger Band shook the Southland and the orange-clad fans cheered proudly.

Watson's eyes stayed focused on the Palmetto Bowl trophy
He gathered his teammates and huddled them closely.
"We have two quarters to go, so don't get complacent.
Now, let's go out there and make a statement!"

The Paw on his helmet gleamed in the autumn light
Another touchdown he threw for the orange and white.
He had the Tigers on the precipice of something never done before
A 12-0 season and on the doorstep of Clemson lore.

He held up four fingers, the same number on his chest
Dabo knew he recruited one of the best.
One final touchdown for the nail in the coffin
No doubt about it, this team was "All In!"

The clock ticked away and as soon as it hit zero
The scoreboard operator turned off the power and thought he was a hero.
It didn't matter much for the damage was done
Clemson came to Columbia and left the same way - still No. 1.

Away to the corner of the end zone to be with Tiger Band he sprang,
His arms around Coach Swinney the alma mater they sang.
But I heard Watson exclaim, before he ducked out of sight
"We've got bigger goals to accomplish. I'll see you in Charlotte Saturday Night!"

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 13

We've arrived at Rivalry Week. After going 22-8 the past two weeks, I'm feeling some confidence as we enter the home stretch before bowl season. This week should be fun. Tons of great games, ranked matchups, and sure-to-be upsets with rivalries taking the stage. The slate is filled with both in-state and cross-border rivalry games (rivalry nicknames in italics below), so many more to choose from than normal. I'll give it my best!

Last week's record: 12-3

Overall: 57-22 (.722 win %)
*Rankings below are CFB Playoff Committee rankings

Friday
No. 15 Navy at Houston (Line: Navy -4)
No rivalry to speak of here, but an important game nonetheless. The first of several winner-take-all battles this weekend takes place in Houston. Navy, whose only loss is to Notre Dame, will earn its first trip to the AAC Championship Game with a win. Houston suffered a major setback with its loss at UConn last week, but can also clinch the AAC West title with a win. Keenan Reynolds has perfected the art of the triple-option offense and has the Midshipmen eyeing a unprecedented New Year's Six Bowl appearance. Navy 38, Houston 27

No. 4 Iowa at Nebraska (Line: Iowa -2)
Battle for the Heroes Trophy (Series: Nebraska leads 29-13-3)
Nebraska has won three of the four matchups since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, including an overtime thriller at Iowa a year ago. Iowa hopes to keep its perfect season alive and remain in contention for a Playoff berth. A loss in Lincoln would be tough to overcome (or would it Michigan State?). The Huskers could be the only team to knock off both the Hawkeyes and Spartans. Meh, maybe not. Iowa 35, Nebraska 20

No. 20 Washington State at Washington (Line: Washington -7)
The Apple Cup (Series: Washington leads 69-32-6)
This one has surprise written all over it, as the Cougars are 8-3 and poised for a 10-win season if they can beat Washington and win a bowl game. The game, however, is in Seattle and the Huskies are looking to becoming bowl eligible. WSU QB Luke Falk is questionable after suffering a concussion a week ago. Still, Mike Leach's teams love to sling it and UW has been flaky this season (flaky enough to give head coach Chris Petersen a two-year extension Thursday). Washington State 38, Washington 34

Oregon State at No. 17 Oregon (Line: Oregon -36)
The Civil War (Series: Oregon leads 62-46-10)
The Ducks have looked much improved since the return of Vernon Adams Jr., winning five in a row to climb back into the rankings. Oregon knocked off Stanford two weeks ago and blew out USC last week. The line on this one is all you need to know. Oregon 62, Oregon State 17

No. 7 Baylor at No. 19 TCU (Line: TCU -1.5)
The Revivalry (Series: Baylor leads 52-51-7)
This one was circled on Big 12 calendars throughout Texas. And then Seth Russell went down. So did Trevone Boykin. And Josh Doctson. And both teams have lost (TCU twice). Baylor needs this more than the Frogs to keep its conference hopes alive. The Bears have won each of the past two meetings by three points, including last year's 61-58 barn-burner. Both teams have gone to their third-string quarterbacks, but Chris Johnson looks more like Cardale Jones. We'll see how good Boykin is in his return. Baylor 41, TCU 27

Saturday
No. 1 Clemson at South Carolina (Line: Clemson -17)
The Palmetto Bowl (Series: Clemson leads 66-42-4)
On paper, this shouldn't be close. Clemson is one of the most balanced, dominant teams in the game. Meanwhile, South Carolina's only win since Steve Spurrier left is over Vanderbilt. However, the Gamecocks' four losses sans Spurrier have all been by 10 points or less. They're a feisty bunch, but facing a Heisman hopeful QB and a team determined to not let anyone get in its way is a monumental task. It's a rivalry game. It's at South Carolina. This will be Shawn Elliott's last game as SC's head coach. Throw out the record books. Yada yada. Closer than the experts think. Clemson 40, South Carolina 24

Georgia at Georgia Tech (Line: Georgia -4)
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate (Series; Georgia leads 64-40-5)
Another in-state rivalry game that on paper looks like a mismatch. But Georgia Tech's triple option offense evens the scales a bit. Mark Richt could very well be coaching for his job in this one. After the season the Dawgs have had, losing a second straight game to the Yellow Jackets might be the end of a pretty good run at UGA for Richt. Georgia 34, Georgia Tech 28

Louisville at Kentucky (Line: Louisville -4.5)
The Governor's Cup (Series: Kentucky leads 14-13)
These two Bluegrass State schools are more known for their battle on the hardwood, but the fierce rivalry extends to the gridiron. Louisville is currently riding a four-game winning streak in the series. The Cats won four in a row prior to that, and the Cards won four in a row before that. Which Louisville team will show up Saturday? And can Kentucky get to bowl eligibility under Mark Stoops? Louisville 24, Kentucky 14

No. 8 Ohio State at No. 10 Michigan (Line: Ohio State -1)
The Game (Series: Michigan leads 58-46-6)
Ohio State had its 23-game winning streak snapped last week - and then all hell broke loose in the Buckeyes locker room. Now, they head to the Big House. Yikes. Michigan has won four in a row to keep its Big Ten East Division hopes alive. The Wolverines are perhaps the most complete team Ohio State will face this season. And we saw what Michigan State did to them last week. I'll take the coach who's smashing Buckeye nuts on Bo Schembechler's grave. Michigan 20, Ohio State 17

Virginia Tech at Virginia (Line: Virginia Tech -3.5)
The Commonwealth Cup (Series: VT leads 54-37-5)
Virginia Tech has won 11 in a row in this series and looks to send Frank Beamer out with one more win over the Cavaliers. Beamer is 19-9 against UVA. The Hokies are favored, but Virginia played its best game a week ago in a win over Duke. Sometimes you just have to go with history and history tells us this game belongs to Beamer. Virginia Tech 21, Virginia 10

Penn State at No. 5 Michigan State (Line: Michigan State -11)
Battle for the Land Grant Trophy (Series: Tied 14-14-1)
My how the Big Ten world turned with one kick. Ohio State was the defending champs and headed toward another College Football Playoff. Then, Sparty happened. Michigan State has defeated Michigan and Ohio State on the road and led for exactly 0:00 of game time. Don't expect the Spartans to get tripped up. MSU is on its way to Indianapolis and Mark Dantonio can proclaim he has the best program in the Big Ten. Michigan State 31, Penn State 13

No. 14 North Carolina at NC State (Line: North Carolina -5.5)
Carolina-State Game (Series: North Carolina leads 65-33-6)
North Carolina isn't getting a lot of respect for myriad reasons. But the Heels have looked as good as anyone in the country and Gene Chizik has done a 180 with the defense. Look out. NC State is much better than its 7-4 record. Remember, too, the Wolfpack dropkicked UNC last year, 35-7. This one's in Raleigh and the Pack can spoil a great season for the baby blues. NC State 38, North Carolina 35

No. 2 Alabama at Auburn (Line: Alabama -14.5)
The Iron Bowl (Series: Alabama leads 43-35-1)
Two years ago was the "Kick 6." Auburn went on to play for a national title and it appeared the tide (pun intended) had turned in the SEC West. Then, Alabama dropped 55 points on the Tigers last year and now Auburn limps in with a 6-5 record. Derrick Henry is a beast and Alabama's defense has been great against some mediocre offenses. But the Tide, in my eyes, aren't as other-worldly as everyone proclaims. Alabama 33, Auburn 26

No. 22 UCLA at USC (Line: USC -3)
The Crosstown Rivalry (Series: USC leads 44-31-7)
Figure these two teams out. UCLA starts the year 4-0 and looks like it could be a factor. Then, the Bruins went 4-3 with losses to Arizona State at home and at Stanford and Washington State. USC, on the other hand, lost early to Stanford, then Washington, then Notre Dame before reeling off four straight wins including a stunner against Utah. The Trojans, though, were blown out by Oregon last week, so who knows with these two teams. It's at USC, but the Bruins have won three in a row and none have been close. UCLA 41, USC 28

No. 18 Ole Miss at No. 21 Mississippi State (Line: Ole Miss -1)
The Egg Bowl (Series: Ole Miss leads 62-43-6)
Aside from running into a brick wall against Alabama, Mississippi State has been on a roll on offense and Dak Prescott is at the center of it all. He's playing his final game in Starkville and is looking to atone for the upset that took place a season ago. Chad Kelly and Ole Miss picked up momentum with their win over LSU last week. The cowbells will be ringing loud in what could be another classic Egg Bowl. Mississippi State 43, Ole Miss 42

No. 13 Florida State at No. 12 Florida (Line: Florida State -2.5)
The Florida Cup (Florida leads 34-23-2)
FSU has won four of the last five in this series and goes up against an offensively-challenged Gator team in The Swamp. In two of its past three games, Florida needed a last-minute field goal to beat Vanderbilt, 9-7, and was taken to overtime by Florida Atlantic before prevailing 20-14. Dalvin Cook can up his Heisman candidacy with a solid game against the Gators' vaunted defense. Jim McElwain tried to light a fire under his team by calling them out for a lack of emotion. There will be plenty of that flowing in this one. Florida State 24, Florida 13

Texas A&M at LSU (Line: LSU -5.5)
(Series: LSU leads 30-20-3)
Could this be Les Miles' last game at Tiger Stadium? Who would've thought that before this season? Well, Miles has a way of getting the best out of his players when their backs are against the wall and questions are abound. Add in that the Aggies only wins since Oct. 17 are against South Carolina, Western Carolina and Vanderbilt, and it's easy to see Texas A&M is a fraud despite its 8-3 record. Leonard Fournette should have a big game. LSU 38, Texas A&M 20

No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 9 Stanford (Line: Stanford -4)
The Legends Trophy (Series: Notre Dame leads 19-10)
The game everyone has waited for to finally see whether Notre Dame is worth a darn or not. We know they barely lost to Clemson, but that's been about all the Irish can proclaim to this point. Stanford has been led by Heisman contender Christian McCaffrey, who looks the part of the best all-around football player. A win here and next week in the Pac-12 title game over UCLA or USC at the very least puts the Cardinal back in the conversation for a Playoff. They just need chaos to ensue ahead of them. Stanford 35, Notre Dame 28

When it comes to OU-OSU, expect, well, bedlam.
(Photo courtesy tvnooz.com)

No. 3 Oklahoma at No. 11 Oklahoma State (Line: Oklahoma -7)
Bedlam (Series: Oklahoma leads 84-18-7)
Four of the past five Bedlam games have produced some of the wackiest results. I guess that's why they call it Bedlam. The Sooners jumped into the Playoff Top 4 in this week's rankings and can solidify their spot with a third straight win over a ranked opponent (second on the road). OSU was exposed by Baylor last week and simply does not have a running game. The weather is expected to be cold and wet, possibly freezing rain/sleet/who knows what else. That bodes well for the Crimson and Cream machine of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 21

Rapid Reax: CFB Playoff Rankings - Week 4

Clemson remained at the top of the College Football Playoff Rankings
for the fourth straight week. (Photo courtesy The AP)

The College Football Playoff Committee released its weekly rankings and following three undefeated teams falling, there has been some shakeup near the top. Clemson and Alabama remained locked in at the top two spots.

Then, there were some intriguing moves. Oklahoma jumped to No. 3 and Iowa moved into the final Playoff spot, bumping Notre Dame. But the Irish fall didn't end there. Michigan State is No. 5 ahead of Notre Dame, meaning the Committee dropped Notre Dame from fourth to sixth. The Irish struggled in a pseudo-home game against lowly Boston College.

I'm honestly shocked Oklahoma made that big a jump. The assumption all along has been that the Committee disrespects the Big 12. OU defeated TCU, who dropped like a rock after a loss to Oklahoma State and a win against Kansas. The Sooners beating the Frogs by one wasn't overly impressive, but it did give Oklahoma another win over a Top 20 team.

Iowa finally made it into the Top 4. After all, the Hawkeyes are the only other unbeaten team beside Clemson. It seems clear that if Michigan State defeats Penn State this week, the winner of the Iowa-Michigan State Big Ten Championship Game will be in the Playoff. With OU at No. 3 and playing No. 11 Oklahoma State on the road, it's unlikely that the Sooners would fall past No. 4 (if Big Ten winner jumps them in final rankings).

That leaves us to discuss Notre Dame. The Irish go to No. 9 Stanford this week and could add a significant win to their résumé. Would it be enough to overtake the final spot from a one-loss Big 12 champion Oklahoma? Or is the Committee sending a message to the Irish that they need to join a conference?

Rounding out the Top 10 are Baylor, Ohio State, Stanford and Michigan. The winner of Michigan-Ohio State obviously has a chance to move up, but would need Michigan State to lose to Penn State to earn a berth in the Big Ten title game. Baylor is lurking and is the only Big 12 team in the running which is playing on the final weekend (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU are all off Dec. 5).

Stanford has a very interesting argument, as the Cardinal could knock off a team ahead of them (Notre Dame) and then defeat a potential Top 25 team in the Pac-12 title game (currently ranked No. 22 UCLA or unranked USC). Stanford likely needs help, though, with two losses already on its résumé.

Only two weeks left to decide the 2015 Playoff bracket. Who do you think gets in?

Here's the complete Top 10
1) Clemson
2) Alabama
3) Oklahoma
4) Iowa
5) Michigan State
6) Notre Dame
7) Baylor
8) Ohio State
9) Stanford
10) Michigan

-BtW

Championship Weekend Update

Championship Weekend is just around the corner and most of the slots for the major conference championship games are set. Several of these matchups have huge implications on the College Football Playoff and New Year's Six bowl games. Here's a breakdown by conference. Note: Big 12 and Sun Belt do not have conference championship games

American Athletic Conference (AAC) - Dec. 5 at TBD (Site awarded to division winner with best conference record)
East: Temple or South Florida
West: Navy or Houston 
Scenarios
-Temple needs win vs. UConn
-USF needs win at Central Florida AND Temple loss
-Winner-take-all battle Friday at Houston

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) - Dec. 5 in Charlotte
Atlantic: Clemson
Coastal: North Carolina

Big Ten - Dec. 5 in Indianapolis
East: Michigan State or Michigan or Ohio State
West: Iowa
Scenarios
-Michigan State needs win vs. Penn State
-Michigan needs win vs. Ohio State AND Michigan State loss
-Ohio State needs win at Michigan AND Michigan State loss

Conference USA - Dec. 5 at TBD (Site awarded to division winner with best conference record)
East: Western Kentucky or Marshall
West: Southern Miss or Louisiana Tech
Scenarios 
-Winner-take-all battle Friday at Western Kentucky
-Winner-take-all battle Saturday at Louisiana Tech

Mid-American Conference (MAC) - Dec. 4 in Detroit
East: Bowling Green
West: Northern Illinois or Toledo
Scenarios
-Northern Illinois needs win vs. Ohio
-Toledo needs win vs. Western Michigan AND Northern Illinois loss to Ohio

Mountain West - Dec. 5 at TBD (Site awarded to division winner with best conference record)
Mountain: Air Force
West: San Diego State

Pac-12 - Dec. 5 in Santa Clara, Calif.
North: Stanford
South: USC or UCLA
Scenarios
-Winner-take-all battle at USC

Southeastern Conference (SEC) - Dec. 5 in Atlanta
East: Florida
West: Alabama or Ole Miss
Scenarios
-Alabama needs win at Auburn
-Ole Miss needs win at Mississippi State AND Alabama loss

-BtW

The Ben Ten - Seventh Edition

The Clemson Tigers are one win away from capping
their first undefeated regular season since 1981.
(Photo courtesy The Greenville News)

Editor's Note: The Ben Ten is my attempt to put together the Top 10 teams (plus three) as of right now. Each week, I play the role of solo Playoff Committee member and submit my own ballot.

Two of my Top 4 teams fell this past week - Ohio State and Oklahoma State. Thus, there is shakeup at the top. Clemson continues to hold onto the top spot, but the rest of the Top 4 looks much different than a week ago. Without further ado...

1) Clemson (11-0)

Previously: 1
As mentioned, the Tigers hold onto the No. 1 spot in the Ben Ten. Clemson has been the most complete team all season, hasn't lost, has offensive and defensive balance, and has a Heisman hopeful quarterback. A tricky two weeks are on tap with a road trip to in-state rival South Carolina then the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte against North Carolina. It's simple for the Tigers: Win and they're in.

2) Iowa (11-0)

Previously: 4
The only other unbeaten remaining in major college football is the Iowa Hawkeyes. The schedule has been lacking, as Iowa missed out on the top four teams from the Big Ten East division. But, the Hawkeyes keep winning and if they can get past rival Nebraska and upset the East winner (TBD), they will be in the Playoff.

3) Oklahoma (10-1)

Previously: 6
No one has looked better since mid-October than the Sooners. Baker Mayfield is providing his magical playmaking ability and OU has knocked off its toughest tests. The blemish on the Sooners' record is fading with each big win. TCU gave Oklahoma a scare when Mayfield missed the second half with a head injury, but OU found a way to win. Oklahoma can win the Big 12 with a win in Stillwater against the Cowboys. Expect Bedlam.

4) Alabama (10-1)

Previously: 7
OK, so Alabama passes the so-called eye test. However, the résumé is taking a hit. Alabama has one win over a team in the current AP Top 25. That'd be No. 23 Mississippi State. The Tide have wins over quality teams with three and four losses, but let's not forget the struggles at home with Tennessee and Arkansas. I'm still not a believer that this Alabama team doesn't have any holes. The Iron Bowl is up next and Auburn would love nothing more than to spoil Bama's season.

Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Alabama in the Capital One Orange Bowl;  Iowa vs. Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee factors in many variables and does its best to send the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.

5) Notre Dame (10-1)

Previously: 5
The Irish are slipping in my view, simply because they haven't been dominant. Notre Dame held off a bad BC team for a three-point win. Notre Dame has one last chance to impress with a trip to Stanford. A win caps an 11-1 season and could propel Notre Dame into the Playoff. Lot of factors at play here.

6) Baylor (9-1)

Previously: 9

Great bounce back win by Baylor to go on the road and knock off Oklahoma State. Even better the Bears were able to do a lot of the damage with their third-string quarterback. Baylor is still in the Big 12 hunt, but now needs to win out against TCU and Texas, and have Oklahoma State take down Oklahoma. Even then, that may not be enough to get the Bears into the Playoff.

7) Michigan State (10-1)
Previously: NR
Huge win by Sparty at Ohio State. When Connor Cook was announced out for the game during pregame, it seemed all hope was lost. But Michigan State played a solid game on both sides and is now in control of the Big Ten East. A win over Penn State sets up a huge chance for MSU to make a case for the Top 4.

8) North Carolina (10-1)
Previously: 10
It wasn't pretty this time, but North Carolina overcame adversity and the emotions of Lane Stadium to defeat Virginia Tech in Frank Beamer's final home game. The Hokies gave the Heels their best shot. UNC absorbed the punches and came out with an overtime win to clinch a spot in the ACC title game. A trip to in-state rival NC State is next, followed by a surprisingly good matchup with Clemson.

9) Oklahoma State (10-1)
Previously: 3
The early deficits finally caught up with Oklahoma State. Although OSU spotted Baylor 14 points and came right back to tie the game, it was clear the Bears were not going to lie down in Stillwater. A win over OU in Bedlam could ease the sting of that loss, but it would leave the Pokes asking "what if?"

10) Ohio State (10-1)

Previously: 2

So this is the real Ohio State, huh? Or is it? The Buckeyes fell in their only game against a ranked opponent, at home and to a backup QB no less. Ohio State now looks like it could finish third in its division. The battle in the Big House this week against Michigan is going to tell us what we need to know about the Buckeyes.

Next three up:

Michigan (9-2)
Michigan did what it needed to do against Penn State. That was win. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes didn't do their hated rival any favors. OSU's loss means Michigan State controls its destiny in the division, not Michigan. The Wolverines have the perfect opportunity to knock off Ohio State and make a good case for a New Year's Six Bowl.

Florida (10-1)
In the last three weeks, Florida has defeated Vanderbilt 9-7 and been taken to overtime by two-win Florida Atlantic. Not exactly what Gator Nation had in mind for picking up Ws before the big, bad Noles come to The Swamp. Florida's offense is bad and it's a good thing it has a stout defense. We'll see how far that carries them when Dalvin Cook is running the ball this week.

Stanford (9-2)
The Cardinal secured their spot in the Pac-12 title game and now have two giant matchups in the next two weeks. I don't believe Stanford has a shot at the Playoff, but it can play spoiler against Notre Dame this weekend. The Irish travel to Palo Alto for the regular season finale. After that, Stanford will face the winner of UCLA-USC for the Pac-12 Championship.

Dropped out:
Florida (8)

-BtW

The Evening After...

In keeping with Sunday tradition, The Morning After is alive and well, albeit a tad late. Sorry, folks. I ran in the Route 66 Half Marathon this morning. Set a new PR too (that's Personal Record for you non-running folks)! Anyway, here we go...

1) It is really difficult for me to sit here behind the computer screen after a 20-point win that led to Clemson's undefeated home and ACC records this season and be critical. Clemson has never finished 8-0 in ACC play and is riding a 14-game winning streak dating to last season. It's only the third time in Tiger history that the football team has started 11-0. What a time to be a Tiger!

2) All that said, I was disappointed with the lack of a running game. Clemson's two leading rushers were its two quarterbacks, backups Kelly Bryant (58 yards) and Deshaun Watson (44). Wayne Gallman being sidelined surely played a hand in that, but the backups had a tough time getting anything going. Still, the Tigers ran for 171 yards and finished with over 500 yards of offense to extend the school record to seven straight games.

3) Deshaun Watson has been incredible lately, but two ill-advised picks were uncharacteristic. Honestly, I hope a lot of the poor production (running game, breakdowns on defense, INTs) are just a lack of focus playing a really bad Wake Forest team. The Tigers rank 14th nationally in total offense and fifth in total defense through 11 games.

4) What a wild one in Norman between OU and TCU. The Sooners stormed out to a big lead and held on late after Heisman hopeful Baker Mayfield left at halftime with an undisclosed injury that surely was a result of a helmet-to-helmet hit he took in the second quarter. Give credit to TCU, down to its third string QB, for fighting and clawing all night. When the Horned Frogs scored with 51 seconds to go, Gary Patterson elected to go for the win with a two-point conversion. The Sooner defense bowed up and batted down the pass to preserve the win. It also preserved their Big 12 title hopes, which will be decided in Stillwater at Bedlam.

5) How about Sparty? With Connor Cook out, Michigan State rode its backup QB to a shocking upset in The Horseshoe. It appears the Buckeyes' best ballgames weren't ahead of them. They are what they have been all season. When Ohio State struggled in previous games, that wasn't a product of an elite team being bored. Michigan State has proved to be a solid program over the years and Mark Dantonio has the Spartans eyeing another Big Ten title game, if they can get past Penn State. On the other side, turmoil in Columbus following that one. Ezekiel Elliott calls out the coaching staff and says he's definitely not coming back next year. Cardale Jones announced on Twitter this was his final game in The Shoe. Oh yeah, and Michigan - or as Ohio State likes to call them "That Team Up North" - is chomping at the bits awaiting this wounded Buckeye squad. Good luck with that, Urban.

6) Back to Bedlam. Oklahoma State was shellshocked at home by a hungry Baylor squad. Clearly, the Bears and freshman QB Jarrett Stidham went into the OU game with all their eggs in that basket, but the moment was too big for Stidham. Kudos to Art Briles for using that game a week ago as a teaching opportunity and getting his team ready for the Cowboys. When Stidham went out, the Bears kept rolling behind third-stringer Chris Johnson. Johnson looked poised and comfortable running the offense. Baylor kept its Big 12 hopes alive and now needs to win out (at TCU, vs. Texas) and have Oklahoma State take down the Sooners this week. Bedlam it shall be.

7) The SEC (L)East was, well, um, underwhelming Saturday. Florida, the East champion, was taken to overtime by two-win Florida Atlantic. The same happened to Georgia and Georgia Southern, although the Eagles are 7-3. Vanderbilt was blanked by Texas A&M 25-0. South Carolina fell to FCS The Citadel for the program's first loss to a team from the other football division in 25 years - also The Citadel in 1990. And Tennessee won 19-8 over Missouri, who was playing its final home game for Gary Pinkel. As one of my buddies put it, you can't argue the SEC teams go through a gauntlet week-in and week-out. Thanks, Todd Mitchum for that.

8) It was really cool seeing Notre Dame and Boston College playing under the lights at Fenway Park. MLB's oldest baseball stadium hadn't hosted a football game in decades, but a job well done by the Fenway Park Grounds Crew and the two universities for setting up that matchup.

9) Quick hitters: Iowa is the only other undefeated team after a 40-20 win over Purdue. The Hawkeyes can wrap up a perfect regular season at Nebraska Friday. What a tremendous job Kirk Ferentz has done. ... LSU suffered its third straight loss, falling to Ole Miss 38-17. The wires are going berserk with reports that this could be Les Miles' final season in Baton Rouge. Time will tell. ...  Stanford clinched the Pac-12 North and awaits the South winner while that division sorts itself out. The winner of UCLA at USC will meet the Cardinal in the championship game. ... North Carolina wrapped up the ACC Coastal with a 30-27 OT win at Virginia Tech in Frank Beamer's last home game. The Heels locked up a date with Clemson in Charlotte Dec. 5.

10) The last week of the regular season is here. This game scares me more than any other. For one, throw out the records (Clemson 11-0, SC 3-8). It's a rivalry and you never ever know what will happen. Two, it's on the road. Three, the Gamecocks have nothing to lose. This is their bowl game, their national championship, if you will. This team is reeling. They're coming off four straight losses, the most recent against The Citadel. Time for the Tigers to put up or shut up. Beat South Carolina.

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 12

I got back on the plus side with a double-digit win week. Four of the Top 10 teams fell last week, so upsets we aplenty. This week will provide a few more Top 10 teams falling with two Top 10 battles. Along the way, there very well could be more upsets and shakeups in the polls. As is customary, I'll pick each of the Top 10 teams' games along with the other top games of the weekend. On to the picks!

Last week's record: 10-5

Overall: 45-19 (.703 win %)
*Rankings below are CFB Playoff Committee rankings

No. 21 Memphis at Temple (Line: Memphis -1.5)
Despite two straight losses, the Memphis Tigers remain in the Playoff Committee Top 25. Temple, which lost to South Florida can take a step closer to locking up a spot in the AAC title game. The Owls' loss is puzzling, given how well they played against Notre Dame. Now, they return home to host Paxton Lynch and a pretty good Tigers team. Could be another down-to-the-wire game for the AAC. Temple 34, Memphis 31

Florida Atlantic at No. 8 Florida (Line: Florida -31)
The first of many SEC cupcake games in November. FAU is bad and the Gators will use this week to prepare for a date with hated-rival Florida State. Florida 44, Florida Atlantic 6

No. 12 Michigan at Penn State (Line: Michigan -3.5)
White-out games at Penn State are a spectacle in the sport. But Michigan lucked out, as this game will be at noon and not at night. Happy Valley will still be hoppin'. It's a trap game for the Wolverines in the sense that they could have an opportunity to knock off Ohio State for a division title next week. To get there, though, they have to get past the Nittany Lions. Christian Hackenberg has never transformed into the QB we thought he'd be. PSU will rely on its defense to keep it within striking distance. Michigan 27, Penn State 17

No. 17 North Carolina at Virginia Tech (Line: North Carolina -5.5)
Hokie fans get to say goodbye to Frank Beamer. When Enter Sandman plays and Virginia Tech makes its way through the tunnel, Lane Stadium will jolt into a frenzy like never before. The emotions in this one, though, will only carry VT so far. North Carolina is playing at a different level and Marquise Williams isn't showing signs of slowing down. The Heels clinch a spot in the ACC title game with a win. North Carolina 45, Virginia Tech 21

Purdue at No. 5 Iowa (Line: Iowa -23)
Iowa is better than people are giving it credit for, but Purdue is no measuring stick. The Hawkeyes shouldn't have any trouble in this one. If they do, it's only because they get caught looking ahead to a showdown at Nebraska next week. Iowa 28, Purdue 10

No. 9 Michigan State at No. 3 Ohio State (Line: Ohio State -13.5)
This one has been circled on the calendar for a long time. It's finally here, but it's lost some luster due to the Spartans loss and an injury to quarterback Connor Cook. Even if Cook plays, it's going to be up to the defense to slow down Ohio State. Something tells me Urban Meyer has been holding back and is ready to unleash what we saw in the Buckeyes' final games a season ago. It also sets up a huge clash next week in the Big House. Ohio State 40, Michigan State 17

Things could get chippy between the Buckeyes and Spartans.

No. 15 LSU at No. 22 Ole Miss (Line: Ole Miss -6.5)
What happened to Leonard Fournette? Well, it's not all on him. He has been the victim of terrible offensive line play the past two games and it's a reason LSU has fallen from No. 2 to No. 15. This week doesn't get any easier with a trip to Ole Miss. In the last two weeks, the Rebels have lost in heart-breaking fashion and been idle, yet somehow fell out of the rankings, then climbed back to No. 22. I guess whatever's best for Alabama, right? Another topic, another day. For now, Les Miles has his back against the proverbial wall. How will he and his bunch respond? Ole Miss 27, LSU 21

No. 20 Northwestern at No. 25 Wisconsin (Line: Wisconsin -10)
Northwestern hasn't fallen off the map after the first half of the season, so there's some progress for Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats. A trip to Camp Randall Stadium to take on a Badger team whose only losses are to No. 2 Alabama and No. 5 Iowa is a tough task. The Wildcats have won their last three games by a combined 11 points after being destroyed by Michigan and Iowa by a combined 78-10. Bowl positioning is at stake and Wisconsin is looking for another 10-win season. Wisconsin 34, Northwestern 24

UCLA at No. 13 Utah (Line: Utah -1.5)
Utah received bad news this week when it was announced that running back Devontae Booker will undergo knee surgery and miss the rest of the season. The Utes still have plenty of weapons and haven't lost at home this season. UCLA, on the other hand, can swipe control of the Pac-12 South and have won 11 of 12 on the road. Because of Utah's loss at Arizona last week, the Bruins - and technically USC - can win the division by winning out. It all rests in freshman sensation Josh Rosen's hands, er, on his right arm. UCLA 35, Utah 23

No. 24 USC at No. 23 Oregon (Line: Oregon -4)
The Ducks shocked Stanford last week and are now a Cardinal loss to Cal away from causing Pac-12 North chaos. Of course, that requires Oregon getting past USC in what was billed in the preseason as a Pac-12 title game preview. Most likely not anymore, but still a good one nonetheless. The Trojans had a couple extra days to prepare coming off their Thursday night win at Colorado, but another long trip to a raucous environment gives Oregon the edge. The two quarterbacks, Cody Kessler for USC and Vernon Adams for Oregon, will be intriguing to watch. Oregon 41, USC 31

Wake Forest at No. 1 Clemson (Line: Clemson -29)
Clemson's defense has taken a beating the past few weeks, perhaps a sign of the lack of depth the Tigers have. Offensively, not many teams are better. Clemson, led by Deshaun Watson, has posted over 500 yards in six straight games and won all six by double-digits since back-to-back wins by three and two over Louisville and Notre Dame, respectively. With Wake Forest coming to Tiger Town for Senior Day, it's a chance for Dabo Swinney's club to work out the kinks before the showdown with Palmetto State rival South Carolina. Although, every time this season I've thought Clemson would win big, it was closer than expected. Clemson 45, Wake Forest 17

Charleston Southern at No. 2 Alabama (Line: Alabama -20.5)
Why? Seriously, why is this game being played in the second to last week of the regular season? Alabama 52, Charleston Southern 14

No. 10 Baylor at No. 6 Oklahoma State (Line: Oklahoma State -1)
Baylor's quarterback situation is one to watch. With Seth Russell out, all the focus is on freshman Jarrett Stidham. It's been reported that Stidham is still banged up from taking a beating by the Sooners last week. That means Shock Linwood is likely to play a bigger role. Baylor's mettle will be tested because the Bears' hopes and dreams of a perfect season were dashed. Can they do the same to the Cowboys, who remain as the Big 12's lone unbeaten? JW Walsh and Mason Rudolph have responded to Mike Gundy's two-quarterback system brilliantly. The Pokes could use a big win to set up an epic Bedlam game next week. Oklahoma State 49, Baylor 35

No. 18 TCU at No. 7 Oklahoma (Line: None due to injuries)
OU celebrated beating Baylor as if it had won much more than just another game. I don't think that's a problem, but there's still two big ones to play. Baker Mayfield has been nothing short of spectacular. With TCU falling off a cliff, and the Horned Frogs' two stars injured - QB Trevone Boykin and WR Josh Doctson - this is right there for the taking for OU. Oklahoma 51, TCU 27

Boston College vs. No. 4 Notre Dame (Line: Notre Dame -15.5)
The coolness factor of this one being played at Boston's iconic Fenway Park is reason enough to check out some of this game. That and the rivalry between the only two Catholic schools in major college football. Notre Dame can't get caught looking toward the season finale at Stanford. Boston College lacks an offensive identity. The Eagles will do their best to protect their backyard, even as the "visiting" team. But the Irish are just too talented. Notre Dame 34, Boston College 20

-BtW

Rapid Reax: CFB Playoff Rankings - Week 3

For the third straight week, Deshaun Watson
has the Clemson Tigers atop the rankings.
(Photo courtesy The Greenville News)

The Top 4 remained unchanged, which isn't very surprising. Clemson hangs on to the No. 1 spot with Alabama second and Ohio State third.

Clemson needs to skate through to the ACC Championship Game, where it will have one final chance to lock up a Playoff spot.

Alabama might be looking better every week, but their résumé takes a hit with every LSU and/or Ole Miss loss. And those two teams play each other this weekend.

Ohio State can likely reclaim at least the No. 2 spot with wins in its final two regular season games - at home against Michigan State and at Michigan.

This is where it gets interesting...

Notre Dame remained in the Top 4 with Iowa No. 5 and Oklahoma State No. 6.

Oklahoma moves up to No. 7, which I believe was expected. The Sooners jump Florida, but remain behind Notre Dame, Iowa and Oklahoma State.

What we know is OU and Oklahoma State will play each other in the final week, with one getting a huge win to potentially propel it up the rankings. Both teams also get a chance to pick up Top 20 wins this weekend with Baylor visiting Stillwater and TCU visiting Norman. We also know someone ahead of those two will lose - either Iowa of Ohio State.

Should the scenario play out that OU wins out and its résumé is compared with Notre Dame, who also wins out, it will be one of the most hotly debated topics in America. They have one common opponent: Texas. Notre Dame defeated Texas in Week 1 by a score of 38-3. OU's only blemish is to the Horns, a 24-17 defeat in the Cotton Bowl in early October.

My argument, though, is you can't compare one game on a schedule of 12. Oklahoma's wins at the end of the season would be much more impressive than Notre Dame's, even if the Irish defeat Stanford to close the season.

Obviously, if it is Oklahoma State winning out and finishing as an undefeated Power 5 conference champion, the Cowboys are in.

Rounding out the Top 10 are No. 8 Florida, No. 9 Michigan State, and No. 10 Baylor. The Gators wrap up the season with Florida Atlantic and Florida State. MSU goes to the Horseshoe to take on Ohio State this week, then finishes with Penn State. Baylor, as mentioned, goes to Oklahoma State, then has a road trip to TCU before closing the season with Texas.

Only three rankings remain until we find out who will make their way to South Florida and North Texas. Buckle up.

-BtW

The Ben Ten - Sixth Edition

Deshaun Watson helped Clemson to a school-record
sixth straight 500-yard offensive performance.
(Photo courtesy AP)

Editor's Note: The Ben Ten is my attempt to put together the Top 10 teams (plus three) as of right now. Each week, I play the role of solo Playoff Committee member and submit my own ballot.

The Playoff field is gaining clarity, as there are now just four undefeated Power 5 conference teams remaining. Two of them reside in the Big Ten, meaning the season will conclude with a maximum of three. Now that the Pac-12 seems to be eliminated, the other four conferences plus Notre Dame are solidly in the debate. Two regular season weeks plus championship weekend are all that remains. Let the fun begin.

1) Clemson (10-0)

Previously: 1
Deshaun Watson is the real deal - Part 3. Another ho-hum performance from the sophomore signal caller. Watson racked up 465 yards of offense in leading Clemson to a 37-27 win over Syracuse. Clemson is now 10-0 for just the third time in school history.

2) Ohio State (10-0)

Previously: 2

As expected, the Buckeyes slowly but surely dominated Illinois. Ohio State and JT Barrett looked rusty early, but walked away from Champaign with a 25-point win. Now comes to toughest part of OSU's schedule - home vs. Michigan State, at Michigan, and a potential Big Ten Championship Game appearance.

3) Oklahoma State (10-0)
Previously: 4
Oklahoma State survived Ames, Iowa, this time around, scoring a 35-31 win after trailing by 17 early on. Iowa State led 31-21 in the fourth quarter, but JW Walsh led the comeback. The Cowboys are the Big 12's last unbeaten team and face Baylor and Oklahoma to close out the season, both in the house that Boone built.

4) Iowa (10-0)

Previously: 6
Iowa has scored 31 points or more in four straight games, including the Hawkeyes' 40-35 win over Minnesota Saturday. Kirk Ferentz and Co. should move to 11-0 with Purdue coming to Kinnick Stadium. But looming large is a date with Nebraska among a sea of red.

Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Iowa in the Capital One Orange Bowl; Ohio State vs. Oklahoma State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee factors in many variables and does its best to send the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.

5) Notre Dame (9-1)

Previously: 5
The experts will tell you Notre Dame's résumé took a hit when Stanford fell to Oregon and Temple lost to South Florida. First off, Notre Dame and Stanford haven't met yet, so that shouldn't have any bearing for the Playoff Committee ... yet. Secondly, Notre Dame still owns the best loss of any one-loss team. The Irish "host" Boston College at Fenway Park this week before traveling to Palo Alto.

6) Oklahoma (9-1)

Previously: NR

Biggest move of the week is Oklahoma, who scored one of the bigger wins of the season at Baylor. The Bears were previously unbeaten, had never lost at McLane Stadium, and were the favorite in the Big 12 this season. Oklahoma and Baker Mayfield keep distancing themselves from the Texas loss. Two more wins against TCU and at Oklahoma State to close the season would be a strong argument for the Top 4.

7) Alabama (9-1)

Previously: 8
Another team with a big win on the weekend was Alabama. The Tide rolled into Starkville and proceeded to keep rolling over Mississippi State, 31-6. Although, the Bulldogs won several key statistics. It will be hard to keep a one-loss SEC champion out of the Playoff, no doubt, but Alabama's loss at home to three-loss Ole Miss still doesn't sit well with me.

8) Florida (9-1)
Previously: 9
The Gators wrapped up conference play with a 24-14 win at South Carolina, sending the Gamecocks to non-bowl eligible status. Florida gets an easy week before hosting Florida State, then heading to Atlanta for the SEC title game. Can the Gators reel off a couple big wins over the Noles and presumably Alabama? If so, Jim McElwain will have Florida playoff bound in his first season in Gainesville.

9) Baylor (8-1)

Previously: 3
Simply put, Baylor got beat by a much better Sooner team, which felt like it owed the Bears one after being dominated the last two years. Jarrett Stidham got banged up in the loss and the road doesn't get any easier. In fact, it leads to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State this weekend, then to Ft. Worth to tackle TCU.

10) North Carolina (9-1)
Previously: NR
Marquise Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels have been video game good in their last two wins. UNC has scored 125 points in destroying Duke and Miami. The Heels can wrap up the ACC Coastal Division title this week with a win, but it won't be as easy as the last two. North Carolina hits the road for the final two games. Up first is at Virginia Tech, where the Hokies will be sending off Frank Beamer in his final game at Lane Stadium. The following week, it's off to face in-state rival NC State.

Next three up:

TCU (9-1)
Trevone Boykin went down with an ankle injury and his status is uncertain going forward. That leaves TCU with two question marks now, as Boykin joins leading receiver Josh Doctson on the bench with injuries. If the Horned Frogs can somehow escape Norman with a win this weekend, they'll be right back in the thick of things, but will need some help.

Michigan State (9-1)
Sparty bounced back with a 24-7 win over Maryland, but lost quarterback Connor Cook in the process. Or so it seems. Cook's status will be kept close to the vest this week as Michigan State prepares for a trip to the Horseshoe. Lose there, and the Buckeyes clinch the Big Ten East Division. Win and who knows what could happen.

Michigan (8-2)
We've reached the land of two-loss teams (sorry, Houston). There are several two-loss teams now - Stanford and Utah as well. It's hard not to put Utah here with the head-to-head advantage over the Wolverines. But Michigan gets the nod after surviving a double overtime win at Indiana. Utah can't say the same, as it lost in two OTs at Arizona. Michigan now hopes for a Buckeye win over Michigan State, and then hopes to upset Ohio State at the Big House to win the division. To get there, though, Big Blue has to knock off Penn State at Beaver Stadium first.

Dropped out:
Stanford (7) and LSU (10)

-BtW

The Morning After...

1) Sometimes, you have to learn to get out of your own way. The Clemson coaching staff was trying to get some valuable playing time for a younger player and add another dynamic to an already uber-dynamic offense. But lesson learned. With a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter, co-offensive coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott elected to run the "Wildcat" with freshman quarterback Kelly Bryant. Bryant fumbled, Syracuse recovered, scored on the next play, and the belief meter shot through the Carrier Dome roof. Next time, let's wait until the game is in the third or fourth quarter to get our younger players the experience they need.

2) With that said, Clemson took a shot from a hungry bunch. Syracuse had lost six straight games - now seven - but the record isn't indicative of the team the Orange have. 'Cuse struggles on the road, but in the Dome, the Orange are dangerous. Clemson and LSU have the two largest wins as opponents, both by 10 points. Survive and advance is the name of the game for the Tigers who need to win three more games to assure themselves a spot in the College Football Playoff. Never thought I'd be typing those words in 2015...

3) What else can you say about Deshaun Watson? The guy is ridiculously good. He finished another game with over 400 yards of offense - 360 passing, 105 rushing - adding three touchdowns. He orchestrated Clemson's offense to its sixth straight game of over 500 yards, a first time in school history. And every time he took the field with Syracuse looking to swipe momentum, he showed poise and moxie to move the Tigers down the field. The kid is legit. To steal a line from the ESPN broadcast, "He, alone, is worth the price of admission."

4) Statistically speaking: Clemson is 10-0 for the first time since 1981, the season of the Tigers' first and only national championship ... The 10 wins marks the fifth straight season Clemson has won that many games. Clemson became just the 15th program in NCAA history to do that ... Clemson is 7-0 in the ACC and has never been 8-0 ... Clemson has 699 wins in its history and can claim No. 700 against Wake Forest Saturday, which happens to be game No. 1200 for the Tigers ... CU has won 27 ACC games in the last four years, a school-best ... 13 straight wins dating to last year and 37 straight wins over unranked teams in the AP Poll ... Watson is 14-1 as Clemson's starting QB.

5) Is Big Game Bob back? I don't know if I'd go that far, but Big Game Baker most certainly is. Baker Mayfield continues to prove every doubter wrong. He had to walk on a Texas Tech, starred as a freshman for the Red Raiders, and was let go by Kliff Kingsbury who decided he wanted to go in another direction. Mayfield showed up on Oklahoma's campus unannounced, walked on with the Sooners, and has now taken the reigns of the Sooner Schooner. What a win for the Sooners to waltz into McLane Stadium where Baylor was undefeated in its brief tenure in its sparkling new home. Mayfield's passion bleeds through his crimson and cream uniform and finds itself spreading on the Sooner sideline. Add in the fact that Oklahoma is, you know, extremely talented and the equation results in a scary thought ... No one wants to play this Oklahoma team. OU has won five straight games, outscoring its opponents 276-84. If they can find themselves in the College Football Playoff, watch out.

6) Farewell, Pac-12. We hardly knew ye. With two regular season weeks still to play, the conference is finished. Stanford was the best hope for a Playoff spot and everyone pointed to the Cardinal's season finale with Notre Dame and the Pac-12 Championship Game as the de facto play-in games. Oregon went to Palo Alto and said, "Remember us?" and knocked off Stanford 38-36. That left Utah as the final one-loss team from Pac-12. But the Utes dropped a two-overtime thriller at Arizona. With several unbeatens and many more one-loss teams, you can assuredly leave the Pac-12 out of the Playoff this season.

7) That's good news for the Big 12, whose fate now rests in the state of Oklahoma's hands. The aforementioned Sooners are surging toward what looks to be another Bedlam classic. Oklahoma State used another 17-point comeback to take down upset-minded Iowa State, 35-31. The Cowboys are the Big 12's last unbeaten and still have Baylor and OU in the final two weeks. Should OU beat TCU and OSU beat Baylor this coming weekend, all eyes in the college football world will turn to America's heartland Nov. 28.

8) Alabama may have had the most impressive win of the weekend by going into Mississippi State and out-classing the Bulldogs. The Tide's 31-6 win over the No. 17 team will likely solidify their spot in the Top 4. However, that impressive win over LSU took a hit as Arkansas went to Baton Rouge and upset the Tigers. The Hogs wasted little time in asserting their dominance with a 31-14 win to keep the Golden Boot trophy. Still, Bama seems to be on track to claim a Playoff spot. Personally, I don't have them in my Top 4, but we know the Committee can't keep Nick Saban out.

9) We are down to five unbeaten teams with Baylor's loss. There are four Power 5 teams - Clemson, Ohio State, Iowa and Oklahoma State. And then there's Houston. The Cougars looked dead in the water at home, trailing 34-14 to Memphis after the first play of the fourth quarter. Houston's star quarterback Greg Ward Jr. went down in the first half with an injury and backup Kyle Postma was thrust into the fire. He led a furious comeback and a Memphis field goal sailed wide right with under 30 seconds to play, securing a 35-34 Houston win. It was the first big game for Houston and the Cougs' first chance to impress the Playoff Committee. Mission accomplished. Houston now is the frontrunner for the Group of 5 spot for a New Year's Six Bowl, especially following Temple's flop against South Florida. The Owls impressed everyone two weeks ago with a hard-fought loss to Notre Dame, but fell 44-23 to a mediocre USF team.

10) Senior Day has arrived in Death Valley and this senior class tops the last one as the winningest in Clemson history. Let's send them out in style. Beat Wake Forest.

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 11

Not a good week picking games last week, so I expect a big bounce-back week. College football can be crazy and November is the time for it to go bonkers. Five of the 11 undefeated teams fell last week. It's another big week with several ranked matchups and other intriguing battles which should provide some clarity for the Playoff picture.

Last week's record: 6-7

Overall: 35-14
*Rankings below are CFB Playoff Committee rankings

No. 3 Ohio State at Illinois (Line: Ohio State -16.5)
After a game suspension, JT Barrett is back to start at quarterback for the Buckeyes. This is the last tuneup for Ohio State before closing the season with the Michigan schools. Early kickoff, on the road, trying to get back in rhythm ... all factors that could lead to a slow start in Champaign. Ohio State 34, Illinois 17

No. 11 Florida at South Carolina (Line: Florida -7.5)
The Gators clinched the SEC East last week despite their offense managing very little against the Commodores. This game would be of much more interest if Steve Spurrier was still coaching the Gamecocks. Florida should be able to score on South Carolina, but the feeling here is the Gamecocks, which beat the Gators in Gainesville last year, won't be a pushover. Florida 23, South Carolina 20

Georgia at Auburn (Line: Auburn -1.5)
Not the game everyone expected back in August, is it? Georgia and Auburn were to contend for the SEC, but neither is ranked and the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry has no meaning in the conference race. Auburn got a big win at Texas A&M last week and should carry that momentum back home. Georgia also scored a much-needed win over Kentucky to fan the flames on the "Fire Mark Richt" crowd. Which team needs it more? Tough to call... Auburn 27, Georgia 23

No. 1 Clemson at Syracuse (Line: Clemson -28)
Clemson looks to have a clear path to the College Football Playoff. At the very least, last week's win over Florida State should give the Tigers some breathing room until a potential matchup with North Carolina in the ACC title game. This is a game Clemson needs to open up the offense, clamp down on defense, and do whatever it wants in the Carrier Dome. If the Tigers are for real, they should roll over the 'Cuse, which has lost six straight games. Anything less than a sixth straight 500-yard performance would be a disappointment. Clemson 55, Syracuse 10

No. 2 Alabama at No. 17 Mississippi State (Line: Alabama -8)
The Crimson Tide had two weeks to think about LSU and Leonard Fournette. They heard about the running back 'til it made them sick. And they completely manhandled the Tigers last Saturday. This is the classic hangover game - on the road against a team starting to get on a roll and is doing so behind the best quarterback in the conference in Dak Prescott. Oh yeah, those cowbells will be ringing louder than ever. Upset of the week in Starkvegas. Mississippi State 31, Alabama 18

Wake Forest at No. 4 Notre Dame (Line: Notre Dame -27)
To be honest, I pick all the Top 10 teams games, which is why this one makes the cut. But it won't be close. Notre Dame might need to find a waterboy to play at some point, as the Irish keep losing starters to injury. The most recent, running back CJ Prosise, who cleared concussion protocol and is expected to be on the sidelines Saturday ready to go. He should stay there, though. This one shouldn't be close. Notre Dame 49, Wake Forest 7

No. 8 Oklahoma State at Iowa State (Line: Oklahoma State -14)
Remember 2011, when undefeated Oklahoma State made a trip to Ames? The Cowboys left with a loss, and ultimately helped lead the demise of the BCS. That was four years ago. This is now. And now, the Cowboys are coming off their biggest win of the season in which they forced four turnovers and scored four touchdowns of 48 yards or longer. The quarterback duo of JW Walsh and Mason Rudolph is enough to keep teams honest. Despite the Cyclones knocking off Texas two weeks ago at home, 24-0, Oklahoma State has much more to play for and has a chip on its shoulder thanks to a lower-than-expected ranking by the Playoff Committee. Oklahoma State 59, Iowa State 17

No. 14 Michigan at Indiana (Line: Michigan -13)
Indiana has come oh so close to knocking off the big boys in the Big Ten. Losers of five straight, this is the last chance to take down a powerhouse. Michigan was given new life in the East division when Nebraska upset Michigan State. Big Blue needs another Spartan loss and to win out. Jake Rudock was sharp against Rutgers last week with over 300 yards and two TDs through the air. Another performance like that will lead to another big Wolverine win. Michigan 37, Indiana 24

Miami at No. 23 North Carolina (Line: North Carolina -13)
What exactly did Miami's eight-lateral win over Duke mean? For one, it sets up a chance for the Canes to take down the ACC Coastal's top dog and creep closer to a berth in the ACC Championship game. Marquise Williams and the Tar Heels are playing their best ball of the season, though. Knowing what Clemson did to Miami earlier, this one should scare Hurricanes fans. A win by the Heels and a Pitt win at Duke sends UNC to the title game in December. North Carolina 45, Miami 27

No. 21 Memphis at No. 24 Houston (Line: Houston -7)
This game lost a little luster when Memphis was blown out by Navy last week. Houston is still in line for a perfect season, but this is their toughest test to date, at least by record (the Cougars defeated Louisville on the road in the second game of the year). Memphis can remain in the hunt for the AAC West hunt, but still needs the Midshipmen to fall twice in their final three conference games. Houston, on the other hand, needs this win to improve its résumé for a potential New Year's Six Bowl. These two offensive teams could provide fireworks. Houston 47, Memphis 44

Arkansas at No. 9 LSU (Line: LSU -7.5)
How will LSU and Leonard Fournette bounce back from their disappointing performance at Alabama? Well, last year the Tigers followed up a tough loss to the Tide by getting shutout by Arkansas, 17-0. The good news this time around is LSU returns home for a night game. The bad news is Arkansas is has strung together three wins in a row and is riding momentum from the season's latest installment of "How did they win that game?!" Is that an upset brewing on the bayou? Nope, just whole roasted hog. LSU 24, Arkansas 17

Oregon at No. 7 Stanford (Line: Stanford -10)
Another matchup that in the preseason looked to have more at stake than it does now. The Ducks just don't have the same quack as in years past, although they can still light up the scoreboard. Stanford has looked like the best team in the Pac-12 behind Heisman contender Christian McCaffrey. The Cardinal's schedule sets up nicely with three straight at home against rivals Oregon, Cal, and Notre Dame. Oregon is still dangerous and still has playmakers on offense, but Stanford is the more complete team. Stanford 38, Oregon 30

Minnesota at No. 5 Iowa (Line: Iowa -11.5)
As mentioned in another post, Iowa keeps winning and proving doubters wrong. Clearly the Committee thinks highly of the Hawkeyes, placing Iowa just outside the Top 4 this week after ranking them ninth in the initial rankings. Minnesota pulled the interim tag and named Tracy Claeys its permanent head coach. The Gophers still don't have enough to keep up with an undefeated Hawkeyes team. The only game remaining that could be an upset is the trip to Lincoln at the end of the season. Leading up to it, Iowa continues to do Iowa things. Iowa 21, Minnesota 10

No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 6 Baylor (Line: Baylor -2.5)

Can Baker Mayfield lead OU to an upset of Baylor?
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

The Sooner Schooner rolls down I-35 full steam ahead with hopes of ending a drought in Waco - the Sooners have lost their last two trips to Baylor and three of four overall. Bears QB Jarrett Stidham was impressive in his first collegiate start on the road against Kansas State. This is a whole different ballgame, though, as ESPN's College GameDay will be in town and McLane Stadium will provide as electric an atmosphere as ever. Baker Mayfield has the Sooners humming - OU is averaging 58 points per game in its last four outings. Defensively, Oklahoma is playing the best of any Big 12 team and will give Baylor its biggest test. The intriguing matchups all over the field should make this one fun to watch. And if one team goes up by 21, don't turn the channel. Waco is about to get wacky. Oklahoma 56, Baylor 51

No. 10 Utah at Arizona (Line: Utah -6)
Utah might be the forgotten one-loss team, just kind of sitting there while the talk revolves around other teams looking to remain in Playoff contention. A tricky trip to the desert for the Utes, who have impressed since an ugly loss at USC. Utah remains on top of the Pac-12 South and is eyeing a chance to win the conference crown. Arizona might have something to say about that. The Wildcats have lost three straight and need to beat either Utah or Arizona State on the road to reach bowl eligibility. The way the Utes are playing, that might be another week. Utah 37, Arizona 31

Rapid Reax: CFB Playoff Rankings Week 2

In the eyes of the Playoff Committee, the Clemson Tigers remain the No. 1 team in the country. That part isn't terribly shocking, considering Clemson's big win over Florida State this weekend.

What baffles me is the Committee ranked two one-loss teams in the Top 4 ahead of three Power 5 unbeatens. Alabama moved from No. 4 to No. 2 following its win over LSU. In fact, Alabama is ranked ahead of all the unbeatens except Clemson. Ohio State stayed put as the No. 3 team in the rankings. Notre Dame rounded out the Top 4.

The Crimson Tide are not being penalized for their loss to Ole Miss at home early in the season. They have basically been given a pass. I would argue Notre Dame's body of work and its loss to this point is much better than Alabama's. How the Irish are two spots behind Alabama is beyond me. How Alabama is ahead of the undefeated defending National Champions is unfathomable.

Iowa moved into the Top 5 and Baylor comes in at No. 6. The Bears have a huge test with No. 12 Oklahoma, who has a good chance to move swiftly up the rankings with wins in its final three games - Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State.

I'd like to find out from the Committee why Oklahoma is ranked outside the Top 10 (even with a loss to terrible Texas), while several other one-loss teams - Stanford and Utah, specifically - are ahead of the Sooners. Committee Chair Jeff Long admitted it has been difficult to judge the Big 12 teams because the strength of their schedule is backloaded. Still, Oklahoma has a road win at Tennessee and has been nothing short of remarkable in its four games since the Texas game.

I'm really surprised Oklahoma State only moved up to No. 8. The Cowboys possess the best conference win in the Big 12, but stayed behind Baylor. The Bear's entire schedule has been criticized to this point. I thought for sure OSU would be in the Top 6 after its demolition of TCU.

North Carolina crept into the rankings at No. 23, despite two FCS wins and a loss to 3-6 South Carolina. I, personally, think UNC is playing more like a Top 15 team right now, but I can see where UNC's wins aren't impressive right now. The Tar Heels could potentially provide an unforeseen speed bump for Clemson in the ACC Championship Game Dec. 5.

Overall, my feelings are that these rankings are worthless until Dec. 5. There will be lots of movement over the final four rankings, so don't look too much into things at this moment. Let it all play out.

-BtW

The Ben Ten - Fifth Edition

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are sitting pretty
after a 23-13 win over ACC rival Florida State.
(Photo courtesy AP)

When the Playoff Committee unveiled its first rankings of the 2015 season, there was plenty of controversy. There were two SEC teams in the top 4 and zero Big 12 teams. Two one-loss teams - Alabama and Notre Dame - were ranked ahead of eight undefeated teams. We have to wait until Tuesday evening to see how those rankings shape up following a chaotic weekend which saw five of the 11 unbeatens lose. Until then, I've got you covered. Remember, this is how I would rank the teams if the season ended today.

1) Clemson (9-0)

Previously: 2
Deshaun Watson is the real deal - Part 2. Watson had 297 yards passing, 107 yards rushing, and led Clemson's offense to its fifth straight game with over 500 yards in dethroning Florida State. The Tigers are battled tested (see wins over Notre Dame and FSU). Dabo Swinney's club continues to be the most complete team and has the résumé to back it up.

2) Ohio State (9-0)

Previously: 1

Clearly the Buckeyes are a better offensive team when JT Barrett is the quarterback. Cardale Jones possesses many strengths, but Ohio State found its rhythm with Barrett. With Michigan State and Michigan looming, a chance for Ohio State to solidify its Playoff spot is still on the horizon.

3) Baylor (8-0)

Previously: 4
True freshman quarterback Jarrett Stidham proved Baylor can live on after Seth Russell. Stidham threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns in his first start at Kansas State. Now, the Bears get Oklahoma and College GameDay coming to Waco to start a huge three-game stretch.

4) Oklahoma State (9-0)
Previously: NR
Yes, the Cowboys jumped into the Ben Ten Top 4. They did so emphatically, thumping previously undefeated TCU, 49-29. Now that word is out that the Cowboys are for real, can they handle having a target on their back? Up next is a scrappy Iowa State team. Remember 2011 when the Cyclones knocked off unbeaten Okie State, effectively eliminating OSU from the BCS Championship and in turn resulting in an all-SEC title game, which effectively led us to the Playoff. Hmm.

Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Oklahoma State in the Capital One Orange Bowl; Ohio State vs. Baylor in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee sends the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.

5) Notre Dame (8-1)

Previously: 7
You have to wonder how high this Irish team would be ranked if it had completed the comeback in Death Valley. That loss to Clemson stings greatly. However, Notre Dame has looked every bit of a playoff contender this season. In comparing losses, the Irish have far and away the "best" loss of any one-loss team. Hence, they land at No. 5.

6) Iowa (9-0)

Previously: 8
Iowa keeps proving doubters wrong (yours truly included). We've been taught that the regular season matters in college football. Welp, the Hawkeyes are undefeated in that regular season with three games to go. They're one of only six teams who can make that claim.

7) Stanford (8-1)

Previously: 9
Christian McCaffrey is arguably the most complete player in college football. The Cardinal wouldn't be here without him and most certainly should've used him more in Week 1 against Northwestern. Stanford closes the season with big showdowns against Oregon, Cal and Notre Dame, all at home.

8) Alabama (8-1)

Previously: 10
I have an extremely hard time believing reporters who tell me Alabama is playing the best football right now. Really? Two games ago, Alabama trailed four-loss Tennessee at home in the fourth quarter and won by five points. Just because they beat LSU and their name is Alabama and their head coach is Nick Saban, doesn't give the Crimson Tide any lee-way in this poll. Alabama still lost at home to a now three-loss Ole Miss team - who lost to Memphis who lost to Navy. Mississippi State and QB Dak Prescott will give the Tide all it can handle next week, and might knock 'em off ESPN's high and mighty perch.

9) Florida (8-1)
Previously: NR
It was ugly in Gainesville Saturday, but the Gators clinched their first trip to the SEC Championship Game since 2009 with a 9-7 win over Vanderbilt. Florida hardly looks like a Top 10 team, offensively at least. Surprisingly, the Gators now go to Columbia as SEC East champs, but need to avoid a letdown against South Carolina to remain in Playoff contention.

10) LSU (7-1)
Previously: 2
Putting out an APB for Leonard Fournette. Last seen: supposedly on the sidelines or the locker room in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fournette mustered 31 yards on 19 carries, a far cry from his over 150 yards he'd accumulated each game this season. LSU now faces a tough road ahead with Arkansas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M remaining.

Next three up:

Oklahoma (8-1)

Are the Sooners a fluke loss against Texas away from being ranked in the Top 4? Absolutely. Oklahoma has outscored its opponents 232-50 in four games since the flop in the Cotton Bowl - admittedly against weaker competition (four teams with 11 wins combined). But the Sooners need to just keep winning. They've already seen one Big 12 team falter (see TCU below). If OU continues to win and chaos ahead of them ensues, the Sooner Schooner could be making its way to the Top 4.

TCU (8-1)
That was a tough pill to swallow. TCU was on the verge of breaking into the Top 4 and laid an egg against Oklahoma State. Trevone Boykin threw four interceptions and star receiver Josh Doctson left the game with a wrist injury. Gary Patterson's squad had no answer for the long ball. Now, the Horned Frogs face a huge uphill battle with Oklahoma and Baylor still on the schedule.

North Carolina (8-1)
Surging back from the "left for dead" category, here are the North Carolina Tar Heels. Marquise Williams is locked and loaded at the quarterback position. While he's in the process of re-writing the school's record book, the Heels are busting down the Playoff Committee door screaming, "Take a look at us!" All UNC has done since it laid an egg to open the season is average 43.5 points per game and begun to separate itself from the rest of the ACC Coastal. Keep winning, get to 11-1 and the ACC title game, and North Carolina would have the chance of a lifetime to knock off Clemson. Uh oh...

Dropped out:
TCU (5) and Michigan State (6)

-BtW