Reax: Interesting debates as penultimate Playoff Ranking revealed

Not a whole lot changed from last week, considering previously No. 3 Michigan fell on the road in double overtime at No. 2 Ohio State. The only other mover in the Top 10 of the Playoff Committee ranking was Colorado jumping Oklahoma. The Sooners were off, while the Buffaloes took down Utah to clinch the Pac-12 South. Here's the Top 10 and some thoughts, courtesy of BENched.

A quick reminder: The rankings today have absolute no bearing on the final rankings on Dec. 4. If a team is ahead of another team now and both win out, they can flip-flop. Here's the Playoff Committee's Top 10:

The Playoff Poll Top 10

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Washington
5. Michigan
6. Wisconsin
7. Penn State
8. Colorado
9. Oklahoma
10. Oklahoma State

Alabama is all but assured a spot in the College Football Playoff. Even if the Crimson Tide lose to Florida in the SEC Championship Game, they will surely not fall out of the Top 4.

Ohio State held onto its No. 2 ranking, while Clemson and Washington each moved up one spot to Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Two years ago, the Committee dropped TCU from No. 3 to No. 6 because it did not play in a conference championship game, thus not collecting a "13th data point." Ohio State also won't be playing in a championship game, but everyone seems to think the Buckeyes are guaranteed a Playoff spot.

I have a lot of thoughts on this, but the most prevalent right now is that it is hard for me to understand why Ohio State gets a virtual bye week, whilst Clemson and Washington are in must-win games against ranked opponents. If Clemson or Washington lose, they'll be out of the Playoff. Ohio State gets to enjoy the weekend on the couch.

The Huskies are excited to be back in the Top 4.
Washington needs a win Friday over Colorado in the
Pac-12 title game to remain there. We think.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Michigan dropped to fifth and is the first of three straight Big Ten teams (after Ohio State). Wisconsin and Penn State, the two teams playing in the Big Ten Championship Game, follow at sixth and seventh. The winner more than likely jumps Michigan, but the question remains if the Committee will put the Big Ten champ in the Top 4. All season, the Committee has said the Big Ten is the best conference and the metrics prove that. So, how can the champion of that conference be left out of the Playoff?

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are behind Colorado, meaning Bedlam will simply be for the Big 12 title and a trip to the Sugar Bowl. Even if Clemson and Washington lose, the Bedlam winner will be competing with: Michigan, the Big Ten champion, and Colorado for the final two spots. Advantage: those other teams.

Other thoughts:

• The SEC had three teams that lost this past weekend remain in the Top 25. That's not all too shocking. What is baffling is how those three teams - Auburn, Florida and Tennessee - somehow managed to drop a combined six spots. Auburn fell one spot from 13 to 14, despite an 18-point loss at Alabama. Florida also lost by 18 at Florida State, but the Gators remained exactly where they were a week ago at 15th. And Tennessee was pummeled by a 5-6 Vanderbilt team by 11 points and only dropped five spots from 17 to 22. LSU entered the rankings at No. 21 after beating unranked Texas A&M.
• Auburn, the highest ranked of that group is in the best shape to head to the Sugar Bowl, as the SEC representative. That would pit the Bedlam winner against the Tigers in New Orleans.
• Louisville and Florida State give us another interesting debate. The Cardinals and Seminoles are both 9-3. Louisville has lost its last two games to Houston and Kentucky, while Florida State has won four straight, including the 31-13 win over Top 15 Florida. Louisville went 7-1 in the ACC; FSU went 5-3. And Louisville beat FSU 63-20 back in September. Yet, the Noles are ranked 12th and Louisville is 13th. This makes sense from a "FSU is playing better right now" perspective. But if the two teams are so close that they are one spot apart, how is head-to-head not used, especially when that head-to-head result is a 43-point shellacking?
• That said, I actually agree that FSU is the better team right now.
• Western Michigan is now the highest ranked Group of 5 team at No. 17. The Broncos are undefeated and play for the MAC Championship Friday night against Ohio. A win in Detroit all but guarantees they will be headed to the Cotton Bowl.
• That is unless Navy, which is No. 19 but has two losses, impresses the committee more by winning the AAC. It's possible, but not probable, that the Midshipmen could jump Western Michigan and claim that coveted spot in the New Year's Six.

CFB Playoff and New Year's Six Bowl Projections (Based on current rankings)

• Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Washington
• PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson
• Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 Florida State
• Goodyear Cotton Bowl: No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 17 Western Michigan
• Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual: No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Colorado
• Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Auburn

-BtW