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
It’s going to be a wild next two months as the SEC’s 4 best teams jockey to get into the playoffs.
Florida is still in the picture, and if they beat Auburn you have to seriously consider them. I don’t think they are beating the Tigers though.
Week 5 Key Games
Auburn at Florida
Playoff Contenders
LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn
In the Playoff Picture
Florida
2) Big 10 – 8.0
After Penn State smashed Maryland 59-0 I’m moving them up. The Big 10 has a round-robin scenario of playoffs that could very much be like the SEC’s.
Iowa could enter the picture if they win at Michigan this week. Michigan State at Ohio State could be a test for the Buckeyes.
Playoff Contenders
Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State
In the Playoff Picture
Iowa
Week 5 Key Games
Iowa at Michigan
Michigan State at Ohio State
3) Big 12 – 7.5
No changes in the Big 12, and nothing of interest on tap this weekend.
Week 5 Key Games
NONE
Playoff Contenders
Oklahoma
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
4) ACC – 6.8
Virginia couldn’t win at Notre Dame, but played respectably. Wake Forest at 5-0 gives the ACC a third top 25 team. Clemson nearly lost at UNC which would have dropped the ACC who we are keeping by an eyelash ahead of the Pac 12.
No games of consequence this week.
Week 5 Key Games
NONE
Playoff Contenders
Clemson
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
5) Pac 12 – 6.7
Arizona State beating California eliminated the Pac 12’s last team that can play their way into the playoffs. The Pac 12 has 4 or 5 top 40 teams, but not a single top 10 one.
Oregon if they win out, may have a shot especially if Auburn ends up as SEC champion.
Week 4 Key Games
California at Oregon
Playoff Contenders
NONE
In the Playoff Picture
NONE
The Rest
Notre Dame took care of a ranked Virginia team which gets them into the top 10. They need to Georgia to win the SEC, and they need to win out to have a chance. There are still too many teams between Notre Dame and the top 4 though.
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 | Auburn | Clemson | Georgia
Just Missed – 5) Alabama 6) LSU 7) Oklahoma 8 ) Wisconsin
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