Super 16 Poll Week 9: Complete Rankings Released for 2014 Season

The only word that really matters in college football this season is "playoff." Every game, every result, every non-conference schedule or road loss or upset all comes back to one thing—which four teams will qualify for this year's College Football Playoff?

But what if there were 16 teams? What if the playoff was four times larger? 

Well, that's what the Super 16 Poll asks each week, as they rank the top 16 teams in the nation to give people an idea of what that playoff system would look like. It's a purely theoretical task, of course, but it's also fun to switch the debate from four teams to 16 teams.

Let's take a look at how the poll looks this week.

Poll

Rank	Team	Record	B/R Poll
1	Mississippi St.	6-0	Mississippi State
2	Florida St.	7-0	Florida State
3	Ole Miss	7-0	Ole Miss
4	Alabama	6-1	Alabama
5	Auburn	5-1	Auburn
6	Notre Dame	6-1	Notre Dame
7	Oregon	6-1	Michigan State
8	Michigan State	6-1	Oregon
9	Georgia	6-1	Georgia
10	TCU	5-1	TCU
11	Kansas State	5-1	Kansas State
12	Baylor	6-1	Ohio State
13	Ohio State	5-1	Baylor
14	Arizona	5-1	Arizona State
15	Arizona St.	5-1	Arizona
16	Nebraska	6-1	East Carolina
17	N/A	N/A	Nebraska
18	N/A	N/A	Oklahoma
19	N/A	N/A	USC
20	N/A	N/A	Utah
21	N/A	N/A	Marshall
22	N/A	N/A	Clemson
23	N/A	N/A	West Virginia
24	N/A	N/A	UCLA
25	N/A	N/A	Duke

Analysis

The one benefit to a four-team playoff as opposed to a 16-team dance is organizational. Essentially, there are far fewer teams by the end of the season that can make a realistic case for being one of the four best teams in the nation. 

When it comes to 16, however, Pandora's Box is opened. Don't get me wrong—the more that is actually decided on the field, the better. But suddenly, a ton of teams can hold forth their resume, shout "Pick me, pick me!" and actually warrant consideration.

East Carolina, for instance, won't sniff the four-team playoff. But with 16 teams, well, it has to be considered. Oklahoma's chance at a national title this year are over with two losses. In a 16-team playoff, however, you better bet the Sooners would make their case for being one of the top 16 teams. Heck, a 16-team playoff is likely the only way the Big Ten or Pac-12 would get a team into the playoff this season (though don't tell Michigan State, Ohio State or Oregon that).

Baylor's loss to West Virginia seems likely to have caused the Bears a shot at the playoff. In a 16-team dance, they'd have a chance to have their revenge.  

The matchups would be so much more fascinating in a 16-team playoff, however. The difference between finishing No. 1 and, say, No. 8 would be palpable. Mississippi State would rather play an East Carolina or Nebraska or Arizona than a Michigan State or Georgia or TCU, for instance. 

Although at this point, perhaps Mississippi State won't mind playing anyone. Beating LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn in consecutive weeks tends to inspire confidence in a team. Surviving the SEC West this season is basically a national championship in its own right, given how amazing the division is. Whichever team does survive—be it Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama or Auburn—isn't going to be losing too much sleep over who they play in a playoff.

Here's one thing we know—whether the playoff is four teams or 16, it's going to be bedlam. In fact, it might look something like this. 

Notre Dame may not be able to get back into the four-team playoff but, man, it would be fun to see what the Irish could do in a 16-team tournament. We may not be getting that wish anytime soon but it's sure fun to imagine.