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) SEC – 8.3
Arkansas losing to Colorado proves that the SEC is not top to bottom unbeatable, but the conference remains solidly at the top of our conference rankings. Texas A&M had a game effort in going down 28-26 to #2 Clemson. Mississippi State easily handled Kansas State.
The top of the conference looks really strong.
Missouri plays Purdue and Vanderbilt faces Notre Dame next week. LSU and Auburn face off in a top 15 game this upcoming week.
Playoff Contenders
Alabama, Georgia, Auburn
In the Playoff Picture
LSU
2) Big 10 – 7.4
It wasn’t a good week for the Big 10, as they barely hold on to the 2nd position here. Eastern Michigan knocked of Purdue, and Northwestern lost at home to Duke. Colorado also beat Nebraska, and Michigan State went down at Arizona State.
Indiana did beat Virginia, Penn State routed Pittsburgh, and Iowa defeated Iowa State.
Next week in a big one TCU faces Ohio State. If TCU beats Ohio State, I’ll place the Big 12 over the Big 10. Missouri and Purdue faceoff. BYU and Wisconsin is interesting too. Kansas and Rutgers will be a great pillow fight.
Playoff Contenders
Ohio State, Wisconsin
In the Playoff Picture
Penn State
3) Big 12 – 7.3
No movement in the Big 12. Iowa State lost to Iowa, but Oklahoma thrashed UCLA.
The Big 12 can separate from the ACC, and move closer to the Big 10 next week. The chance is there with TCU playing Ohio State. Rutgers and Kansas matchup in a game featuring two of the worst power five teams in the country.
Playoff Contenders
Oklahoma
In the Playoff Picture
West Virginia, TCU
4) ACC – 7.2
Clemson got a hard fought win at Texas A&M. Duke picked up a very nice over Northwestern. Those were the positives. It went down hill from there. UNC lost to a terrible East Carolina team. Georgia Tech is still blowing double digit second half leads in 2018, and went down at USF. Pitt was blasted by Penn State. Virginia lost to Indiana.
Florida State nearly lost to something called Samford.
Duke heads to Baylor in the biggest OOC matchup of the week for the ACC. NC State vs West Virginia would have been great, but was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence.
Playoff Contenders
Clemson
In the Playoff Picture
Virginia Tech
5) Pac 12 – 7.0
The Pac 12 had a great comeback week in week 2, and has the ACC in it’s sights. Arizona State picked up a huge win over Michigan State. Herm Edwards is off to a great start there. California beat BYU, and Colorado knocked off Nebraska.
Arizona was destroyed by Houston though, and UCLA was clobbered by Oklahoma.
USC vs Texas is the only notable OOC game this week for the Pac 12.
Playoff Contenders
None
In the Playoff Picture
Stanford, Washington
The Rest
Notre Dame struggled, but Bowling Green. They play Vanderbilt this week. Boise State gets a chance to be noticed with a game at Oklahoma State.
Playoff Contenders
Notre Dame
In the Playoff Picture
Boise State
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 | Alabama | Clemson | Oklahoma
Just Missed – 5) Auburn 6) Georgia 7) Notre Dame 8) Wisconsin
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