Alabama football will continue to be ranked No. 1 Tuesday night. The rest of the top four may change after CFB’s week 12.
For Alabama football fans, the Iron Bowl carries above-average significance. Bragging rights in-state, Division and Conference championships are on the line, plus a probable CFB Payoff elimination game.
Even two-loss Auburn has a chance to break CFB Playoff precedence if it beats the Tide. In the short history of the CFB Playoff, the committee has never selected a two-loss team. Auburn could become the first with wins over Alabama and Georgia in the SEC championship game.
ICYMI: Alabama will beat Auburn
After week 12, CFB has three Power Five undefeated teams. Alabama football and Wisconsin are 11-0 and Miami is 10-0. The one-loss Power Five group, all at 10-1, are Georgia, Oklahoma and Clemson. Two more two-loss teams, Ohio State and Penn State have an outside chance of winning the B1G Ten and sneaking into the field of four.
CFB Week 12 results and potential Playoff impacts
The CFB Playoff ranking Top Ten teams all won. The victories were no surprise as all ten teams were clear favorites. The Playoff selection process only has two more weekly updates and the final ranking on December 3rd. Undefeated Power Five teams are Playoff locks and this coming Tuesday, the committee may conclude it is time to adjust Wisconsin and Miami upward.
After a win over Michigan, Wisconsin is likely to move into the top four. Miami also recorded a respectable win over Virginia and the Canes could move up a notch. If these changes occur, who gets left out of the top four? It will be either Clemson or Oklahoma.
The committee may continue to discount the Clemson loss to Syracuse that came after its QB Kelly Bryant was lost to injury in the first half. In that scenario, Oklahoma and Wisconsin could change places. Can the Sooners climb back into the top four with two more wins? The problem for the Sooners is that its next opponent, West Virginia lost for the fourth time Saturday to six-win Texas. A win over TCU in the Big 12 championship game might not be enough for the Sooners.
Ohio State’s final four chances took a hit on Saturday when Iowa lost to five-win Purdue. The Hawkeyes destroyed Ohio State a couple weeks back but now drop to 6-5.
What about Alabama Football?
The Tide cannot overcome a loss to Auburn. Depending on what other teams do, a close loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship game might not exclude the Tide.
it is increasingly looking like the eyeball test will dictate final committee decisions. Conference championship may not mean much this season. The PAC 12 champion will not qualify and a two-loss Big 12 champion may be left out. The same result could happen to a two-loss B1G Ten champion.
What is left is head-to-head, strength-of-schedule (SOS) and the eye-ball tests. Though the impact will not be huge, the weekend wins by LSU and Mississippi State helped the Tide. Beating Auburn will certainly improve the Tide’s SOS. Alabama football also needs Georgia to win against Georgia Tech.
CFB Playoff Top Eight Projection for the Nov. 21, ranking.
BIG Disclaimer: This is nothing more than the opinion of the author. It is only one fan’s best guess about week four of the CFB Playoff rankings.
- Alabama
- Miami
- Clemson
- Wisconsin
- Oklahoma
- Auburn
- Georgia
- Ohio State
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Check in with us Tuesday night. We will take a deep dive into week four of the CFB Playoff committee rankings.