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 – 8.4
Another lower tier SEC team lost a game OOC. Mississippi State took it on the chin at home to Kansas. The bottom half of the SEC is as bad as any power 5 conference. That said the top half of the conference has 4 playoff caliber teams.
I wouldn’t take much stock in Georgia vs Notre Dame. The Dawgs will wipe out the frauds from South Bend. Auburn at Texas A&M could legitimatize or bring into question Clemson’s win over the Aggies.
Week 4 Key Games
California at Ole Miss
Auburn at Texas A&M
Notre Dame at Georgia
Playoff Contenders
LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn
In the Playoff Picture
Florida
2) Big 10 – 7.8
The Big 10 took a couple of bad losses this past week. Temple beat a ranked Maryland team, and Arizona State knocked off Michigan State. TCU took out Purdue too. I have the Big 10 losing ground on the SEC with those losses.
Michigan vs Wisconsin is a huge game. The winner becomes a serious playoff contender. The loser has a lot of work to do.
Playoff Contenders
Ohio State
In the Playoff Picture
Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa
Week 3 Key Games
Michigan at Wisconsin
3) Big 12 – 7.6
The Big 12 won every OOC game they played last week expect for Texas Tech vs Arizona. I have them nearly catching the Big 10 this week.
They don’t have a lot on the schedule this week except Oklahoma State at Texas.
Week 3 Key Games
Oklahoma State at Texas
Playoff Contenders
Oklahoma
In the Playoff Picture
None
4) Pac 12 – 6.9
It was another bad week for the Pac 12. Stanford was blown out by UCF. UCLA was blown out by Oklahoma. BYU beat USC. That said Arizona State winning at Michigan State was a high quality win and Arizona had a nice victory over Texas Tech. That’s enough to pull ahead of the ACC.
Utah at USC is a dangerous game. A USC win may take the Pac 12 out of the playoff chase.
Week 3 Key Games
Washington at BYU
California at Ole Miss
Utah at USC
Playoff Contenders
NONE
In the Playoff Picture
Utah
5) ACC – 6.7
Wow just wow this weekend this past weekend. Boston College gets trucked by Kansas at home. NC State lost to an awful West Virginia team. Georgia Tech suffered a humiliating loss to the Citadel.
Thankfully Clemson remains Clemson. Virginia looks like a legit top 25 team and Wake Forest has been solid early.
Week 4 Key Games
Boston College at Rutgers
UCF at Pittsburgh
Playoff Contenders
Clemson
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
The Rest
I think Notre Dame is going to get smoked by Georgia this week. UCF can pick up another power 5 win when they face Pittsburgh.
Playoff Contenders
NONE
In the Playoff Picture
Notre Dame, UCF
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 | LSU
Just Missed – 5) Georgia 6) Oklahoma 7) Auburn 8) Utah
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