For the College Football Playoff Rankings this is the semi final ranking.  One more week to ge for the final polls.  Of the polls they do for the playoff this one and the last one are the two most important ones.  The only reason the other polls are interesting is because it gives us all something to debate.   In sports that is a good thing.  Give us a toping and two people are assured to disagree.

One thing that few if any will disagree with is that Alabama should be and is the number one ranked team.   They have been there all season.  In one poll for some reason someone gave their first place vote to Clemson.  Ok sure it is your vote you can do what ever you want.  In the College Football Playoff Rankings.  The only one that counts. Alabama has been and will continue to be number one.

The top 4 this week:

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Notre Dame
4. Georgia

It is very difficult to argue with these rankings.  Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame are the only power 5 teams that are unbeaten.  Well Two powere 5 and on “independent”.  Notre Dame still thinks they should be on their own.  I dont’ care what conference they join but it is time to tell them.  Join a conference or you are out of the playoff.  Lets see how fast teh decide on which conference to join then.

Five and Six

The huge debate comes at 5 and 6.  Coming in at 5 is Oklahoma.  Coming in at 6 is Ohio State.  I think that these two teams are pretty interchangeable.  As far as the football goes they are basically the same team.   Maybe Ohio State has a slightly better defense.  But both of these teams are built on trying to out offense any team that they play.  That is just the way things are going at all levels of football.   The question here comes down to ratings.  Not football rating.  Television or viewer ratings.  Ohio State has been and will continue to be one of the largest numbers draws out there.

Oklahoma should be ahead of Ohio State right now.  Their lone loss was to Texas in a rivalry game that came down to the last series of the game.  Ohio State like last year.   Had a horrible loss to a team that they should have destroyed.  Somehow the Buckeyes managed to get blown out by a 500 team.  Purdue beat them 49 – 20 on October 20th.  Granted it was in West Lafayette.  Ha there is no granted.  It really should not have mattered where this game was played.   The Buckeyes should have easily won this game.  Other than one player they had better players.  The Buckeyes were the team to beat in the B1G and Purdue did that.

What we Mostly Know

Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame are all going to be in the playoff.   This is almost assured.  They only way this does not happen is if Alabama or Clemson just completely fall apart in their Conference Championship game.  I really do not see this happening.  I see almost no scenerio that puts Notre Dame out of it.   Since they don’t play a championship game their body of work is done.  Other years it would be possible that this could work against them.  This year it just means they have no opportunity to lose so they will be undefeated and that means they are in.   There is no way that the College Football Playoff Committee is going to keep an undefeated Notre Dame out of the playoff.

Three Teams One Spot

That will leave one spot for three teams.  Georgia, Oklahoma or Ohio State.  There is no other team I see that can take that spot.  If Georgia somehow manages to beat Alabama.  They are in.  If Alabama gets blown out then there is a chance that the Committee Alabama out of the playoff.  That is highly unlikely and even if it happened there is still a chance that they would keep them in.

Oklahoma will be in if Georgia loses and Ohio State loses or wins a close game with Northwestern.  If Oklahoma loses to Texas then the Big 12 is out of the playoff completely.  Which is a possibility.   This really is much less confusing than I am making it sound.

Here it is Super Simple for Next Tuesday.

Alabama – In

Clemson – In

Notre Dame – In

Georgia – In with a win over Alabama Out with a loss

Oklaoma – In with a win and a Georgia and or a Ohio State Loss

Ohio State – In with a Georgia and Oklahoma Loss

I think that pretty much sums it up.  I vote for something crazy to happen but the chances of that this year are pretty slim.   The PAC 12 is out.  UCF is out.    Big 12 is out if Texas wins.   The B1G is out with a Northwestern win.   If Oklahoma and Ohio State lose we end up with SEC, ACC and an Independent.  If that happens then that should be the kick the NCAA needs to make the changes we want in the playoff.