Super 16 Poll Week 13: Complete Rankings Released for 2014 Season

In a 16-team playoff format, we wouldn't question Ohio State's resume, or if a one-loss SEC team that doesn't win the conference deserves to get into the playoff. We wouldn't worry about TCU being ranked ahead of the Baylor team that defeated it (OK, maybe we'd worry about it a little) or even lament Arizona State's loss this week that knocked it out of the postseason conversation.    

We don't have a 16-team playoff format, of course. But each week, the voters at the Super 16 Poll play that fun theoretical and decide on their best 16 teams in the nation. Below, you'll find their latest poll along with the Bleacher Report poll this week and analysis on the rankings.

Rank	Team
1	Florida State
2	Alabama
3	Oregon
4	Mississippi State
5	TCU
6	Baylor
7	Ohio State
8	Ole Miss
9	Georgia
10	Michigan State
11	UCLA
12	Kansas State
13	Wisconsin
14	Arizona
15	Arizona State
16	Auburn

Analysis

At this point, while the various polls don't necessarily agree on what order they should be placed in, they do agree that Alabama, Oregon and Florida State are the top three teams in the nation. Florida State still hasn't lost, Oregon has gotten better and better as the season has worn on (and has a great non-conference win over Michigan State) and Alabama has the best win of the bunch after it just knocked off Mississippi State.

While Florida State was dropped to No. 3 in the standings by the selection committee this week and has its share of detractors, it's hard to ignore that the Seminoles just keep on winning.

"Everybody talks about this team doesn't do this, doesn't do that," Jimbo Fisher told Dan Wolken of USA Today after Florida State survived Miami. "When you measure this team for 60 minutes, it measures up pretty dag-gone good to anybody, anywhere."

Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

After those three teams, though, the No. 4 spot is seemingly up for grabs. While a four-team playoff isn't really taken into consideration by the Super 16 voters—since they are voting on a 16-team playoff pool—determining the No. 4 team in the country has become college football's most important debate.

A pair of Big 12 schools, Baylor and TCU, can each make a case. So too can Ohio State. But are we all leaving Mississippi State for dead too quickly?

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports isn't and still has the Bulldogs in his top four:

"

Mississippi State fell hard in Tuscaloosa, but doesn’t fall out of the Fab Four. The Bulldogs were on the verge of being run out of Bryant-Denny Stadium but regrouped and made a game of it, showing their mettle. Even though all three of their quality wins took a hit Saturday—Auburn lost to Georgia, LSU lost to Arkansas and Texas A&M lost to Missouri—they still have more on the resume than Baylor, TCU and Ohio State.  

"

Reaching the College Football Playoff without winning the SEC or even reaching the title game—Alabama will win the SEC West if it wins out—will be a blight on Mississippi State's resume, no question. But the fact that the Bulldogs' resume is already so strong and could get even stronger if they beat Ole Miss shouldn't be disregarded. 

In a 16-team playoff, teams like Ohio State, TCU and Baylor wouldn't be left out. And even in the four-team playoff system, TCU and Baylor may not be left out, depending on which team wins the Big 12. But Ohio State is probably in trouble. 

The team's best win is Michigan State on the road, a pretty good win. But the Big Ten is down this year, and the Buckeyes are likely either going to only be able to add a potential win over two-loss Nebraska or two-loss Wisconsin in the conference title game. Plus, the loss to Virginia Tech is easily the worst loss amongst the top contenders for the playoff. 

So yes, the Buckeyes would probably be all in favor of an expanded playoff system this year. They may still get in, but it's hard to imagine them getting in over a Mississippi State, Baylor or TCU.