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 – 8.2
Another week and more SEC OOC losses. Arkansas goes down to something called San Jose St. and Ole Miss gets beat by California. The bottom half of the SEC is as bad as I can remember.
That said no other other conference can match team for team the top 4 in the SEC, but UGA wasn’t nearly as impressive as I expected against Notre Dame.
Week 5 Key Games
Dull week in the SEC… No games of real consequence.
Playoff Contenders
LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn
In the Playoff Picture
Florida
2) Big 10 – 7.7
Rutgers lost to Boston College, proving they might be the worst Power 5 team in America. Michigan was a fraud and got exposed in a blowout to Wisconsin.
Penn State has an intriguing game at Maryland this week.
Playoff Contenders
Ohio State, Wisconsin
In the Playoff Picture
Penn State, Iowa
Week 3 Key Games
Penn State at Maryland
3) Big 12 – 7.5
SMU beating TCU was not a good look for the Big 12. That keeps the Big 12 behind the Big 10 this week. If Kansas State beats Oklahoma State they should be moved into the Top 15.
Week 3 Key Games
Kansas State at Oklahoma State
Playoff Contenders
Oklahoma
In the Playoff Picture
None
4) ACC – 6.8
The ACC finally had some good results this weekend. Pittsburgh knocking off UCF was one of the better OOC wins of the year. UNC went to down to Appalachian State, but that was the only bad result of the weekend.
Virginia has an enormous chance at respect with a game at Notre Dame this week.
Week 4 Key Games
Virginia at Notre Dame
Playoff Contenders
Clemson
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
5) Pac 12 – 6.7
California winning at Ole Miss was nice, but Utah losing to USC and Washington State getting beat by UCLA were bad looks for the Pac 12. There’s too much parity for their own good, and the Pac 12 will need a miracle to have a playoff team.
Basically they are in a win and hope scenario for the rest of the year.
Week 4 Key Games
USC at Washington
Playoff Contenders
NONE
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
The Rest
Goodbye UCF after a crushing loss to Pitt. Notre Dame needs a ton help to get back into the playoff chase after losing to UGA. They schedule just doesn’t have enough meat in it the rest of the way.
Well see check back in a few weeks if chaos has ensued and the Irish have a shot.
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 | Alabama | Clemson | Georgia
Just Missed – 5) LSU 6) Wisconsin 7) Auburn 8) Oklahoma
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