Projected College Football Playoff Rankings Top Four: Big Ten Teams

Projected College Football Playoff Rankings

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Three undefeated teams – Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and Houston – lost, leaving just Clemson and Iowa without a blemish. So with that in mind, let’s make a couple of huge assumptions here.

Let’s assume the CFP committee actually watched its beloved Notre Dame struggle against a miserable Boston College team. Let’s also assume that it’s about to punish Florida really, really hard for that awful performance at home against a dreadful Florida Atlantic.

Let’s assume that Michigan State winning at Ohio State is a really, really, really gigantic deal that gets rewarded accordingly, and let’s also assume that Oklahoma and Stanford are going to start receiving a little bit more credit and attention after getting through two huge games against TCU and Cal, respectively.

At this point, with the way the SEC has been playing, there’s no way two SEC teams are getting in the playoff. There’s no way two ACC teams are in, and the Pac-12 is just hoping to possibly get one team close to the pin. However, the Big 12 could make this interesting if the Baylor beats TCU and Texas and Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State to finish 11-1 – and if Notre Dame loses to Stanford. The Big Ten could also make a push to get two teams in if Iowa goes 12-0 and loses a tough championship game against Michigan State, or if Ohio State blows out Michigan and rebounds to finish 11-1.

The American Athletic Conference is out of any playoff discussion after Houston lost to Connecticut, but watch out for Toledo to make a bit of a push for that Group of Five automatic slot. At the moment, though, Navy has the inside track to get the bid.

But for now, after everything that just happened, what will the College Football Playoff rankings probably be on Tuesday night?

Projected College Football Playoff Rankings, Week 4

1. Clemson

Last Week: No. 1 … The committee is still loving the Tigers, even though the resume just isn’t quite as strong it should be. At this point, though, there are just two unbeaten teams left, and there’s no way Clemson is budging now after blowing away Wake Forest.

2. Alabama

Last Week: No. 2 … While the rest of the SEC appeared to be limping along, Alabama took care of its rest-up game. No one will give the Crimson Tide any credit for whacking Charleston Southern, but that’s one of the best teams in the FCS that just got destroyed.

3. Iowa

Last Week: No. 5 … And here goes big move No. 1. No, beating Purdue just isn’t that great, but considering teams are falling left and right, that Iowa is still one of just two unbeatens is impressive enough to finally earn a spot in the top four. Hovering around for a while, it gets behind the rope and into the club.

4. Michigan State

Last Week: No. 9 … Welcome to big move No. 2. The loss to Nebraska will keep the Spartans behind Iowa, but now the resume is starting to look fantastic. Beating Oregon and Michigan will carry more weight than ever, and, of course, going to Columbus and beating the 23-game-win-streak, defending national champion should earn enough points to get ahead of Oklahoma and Notre Dame and into the fun.

5. Oklahoma

Last Week: No. 7 … OU will get close to the pin, but won’t quite get in the cup. Fortunately, Iowa and Michigan State will probably play each other, knocking one out and allowing a One True Champion from the Big 12 in. Beating Tennessee at Tennessee, Baylor at Baylor, TCU, and, potentially, Oklahoma State at Oklahoma State should be enough to get in, even with the Texas gaffe.

6. Notre Dame

Last Week: No. 4 … Call this more of a thought on what should happen than a true projection – there’s a chance Notre Dame still finds its way into the top four even with horrible performances against bad teams like Boston College and Virginia on the resume. Nothing against the Fighting Irish, other than that they have to stop being given way-too-much credit for the close loss at Clemson, but with USC getting bounced by Oregon, there’s a good chance that the only win over a CFP Top 25 team will be Navy. Buuuuuut, that Texas win in the season-opener is still going to be part of the discussion vs. Oklahoma. Flip a coin between ND and OU on who’ll be No. 5.

7. Baylor

Last Week: No. 10 … Baylor will get enough credit for going into Stillwater and knocking off previously unbeaten Oklahoma State to make a nice comeback in the rankings after the Oklahoma loss. The Cowboys were No. 6 – the win isn’t going to get as much credit as Michigan State beating Ohio State – but it’s a step. Beat TCU and Texas, and the Bears should hover just outside of the top four – again.

8. Ohio State

Last Week: No. 3 … Is this when Ohio State gets punished like it should for not beating anyone? Not only are the ten wins pedestrian compared to what the others in the top ten will have done, but the home loss to a Michigan State team without its starting quarterback might cause an even bigger drop than this. Baylor fell four spots two weeks ago after losing at home to Oklahoma – the Buckeyes falling five wouldn’t be too crazy.

9. Stanford

Last Week: No. 11 … As the Pac-12 North champ, Stanford slides up a wee bit. The Oregon loss is still too fresh, but wins over USC, UCLA and Washington State will be enough to easily move into the top ten.

10. Oklahoma State

Last Week: No. 6 … A four spot drop seems to be the norm for a massive home loss. Again, Baylor went from six to ten after losing to Oklahoma, and Stanford fell from seven to 11 after losing to Oregon. The Cowboys will drop, but it’ll still have a chance at ranking redemption against Oklahoma.