While the playoff committee doesn’t rank the power 5 conference, there is no way conference strength – which means OOC results doesn’t figure in to a committee members thought process.
Let me point out on my philosophy on these rankings – your most recent OOC results count a lot, and you’ll see me reference that throughout the season.
We’ll give each conference a relative strength value 1-10.
Let me explain my relative rankings
0-5 : Conference lacks depth no elite teams
6-7: Conference lacks depth, and there are 1-2 elite teams, and 1-2 quality teams
7-8: At least 2 elite teams, and at least 2 quality teams.
8-9: 3 elite teams, and at least 2 quality teams
9-10: 1/2 of conference is elite and/or quality teams.
1) Big 10 – 8.2
Ohio State was a little sloppy, but took care of Penn State. If they get by Michigan and win the Big 10 title, they should end up being the #1 seed in the playoffs.
Playoff Contenders
Ohio State
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
Week 14 Key Games
Ohio State at Michigan
2) SEC – 7.8
Georgia has major offensive issues, but the defense is one of the best in the country. They’ll get no resistance from Georgia Tech this week. LSU hosts Texas A&M, but hard to the see the Aggies winning that one. If Alabama has a prayer of the playoffs, they need to smash to Auburn impressively.
Week 14 Key Games
Alabama at Auburn
Georgia at Georgia Tech
Florida State at Florida
Clemson at South Carolina
Louisville at Kentucky
Texas A&M at LSU
Playoff Contenders
LSU, Georgia
In the Playoff Picture
Alabama
3) Big 12 – 7.3
Oklahoma gets a chance to impress the committee with a road game at Oklahoma State. The Sooners have a lot of ground to make up.
Week 14 Key Games
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
Playoff Contenders
None
In the Playoff Picture
Oklahoma
4) Pac 12 – 6.9
Oregon losing at Arizona State eliminates the Ducks from the playoff conversation. That hurts the Pac 12, as Utah gets a lower ranked Oregon team in the title game. The Utes are very good, but need to look good to get that 4th playoff spot.
Week 14 Key Games
Colorado at Utah
Playoff Contenders
Utah
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
5) ACC – 6.7
Virginia Tech gave the ACC a second ranked team, but with Miami taking a brutal loss to FIU I can’t move the ACC up. If the ACC can go 2-2 in their rivalry games with the SEC, I would consider moving them up.
Week 14 Key Games
Clemson at South Carolina
Florida State at Florida
Georgia at Georgia Tech
Louisville at Kentucky
Playoff Contenders
Clemson
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
The Rest
Nothing to talk about here….
Playoff Contenders
NONE
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
My Current Playoff Teams
As my personal criticism of the playoff committee, I don’t think the top 4 seeds order should be released until the final rankings. The playoff committee’s inconsistent and ever changing criteria is causing unnecessary frustration and confusion. It’s one of the improvement points I’d have for them.
If I had a vote this is who I would put in the playoff right now.
In – Ohio State | Utah | Clemson | LSU
Just Missed – 5) Georgia 6) Alabama 7) Oklahoma 8 ) Minnesota
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