College Football Playoff 2014: Latest Rankings and Best Possible Matchups

Even though there are very real stakes for the top college football teams in the country, it still seems like there's no definitive criteria for the College Football Playoff selection-committee rankings. As frustrating as that may seem, it leaves a lot of room for debate. 

That is precisely what this is going to be about. Instead of simply highlighting the best teams or which ones are most deserving of a spot in the playoff, it seems more fun to look at the best potential matchups. Ultimately, that's all that matters after the final rankings are revealed on December 7. 

In order to do this, context will be properly applied. It's important to look at where the rankings are at in Week 13 and what can happen over the next two weeks. In doing so, it provides the jumping-off point to look ahead at which matchups will have fans salivating in anticipation. 

Note: These aren't necessarily Championship Game matchups, just potential games that could happen in either round of the CFP.

Florida State vs. Alabama

We were so close to getting this matchup in the BCS Championship Game last year, but Auburn had to spoil everything. It may be a bit delayed, but a showdown between the defending-champion Florida State Seminoles and the Alabama Crimson Tide would be the most compelling matchup in the College Football Playoff. 

Think about it. You have the nation's best-known player, Jameis Winston, going up against the most high-profile coach, Nick Saban. 

There's no denying that this year's Florida State team isn't as good as last year's. It's been fortunate to be undefeated through its first 10 games, winning four games by six points or less, but that zero in the loss column is all that matters. 

Matt Leinart of Fox Sports wrote about why all the over-analysis of Florida State's close calls is good for the team:

"

Yes, Florida State has looked average at times. The Seminoles do tend to get off to a slow start. Winston has been awful in the first half of a few games this year.

But I know what it's like to press and feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, trying to be perfect every single snap. It is hard. But great players and teams — championship teams — always find ways to win.

"

Since everyone holds the SEC in the highest regard, it's only fitting that Florida State's path to a second consecutive national championship would run through Alabama. The Crimson Tide are still searching for a consistent identity on offense, but the presence of Amari Cooper can cover a lot of flaws. 

(Note: As of this writing, Cooper was taken out of Alabama's game against Western Carolina with a left knee injury, according to Michael Casagrande of AL.com.)

When he is on the field, Cooper produces better than any receiver in college football, per ESPN's College Gameday:

Florida State has had problems defending the pass this season. Louisville threw for 330 yards against the Seminoles, while Everett Golson had 313 passing yards and three touchdowns for Notre Dame. 

Trying to stop Cooper is different than anything that Florida State has done this season. There's also the question of what Winston, who has been prone to throwing interceptions this year, will do against an Alabama defense that ranks second in points allowed per game (14.5). 

In terms of marquee matchups, it doesn't get any better than Florida State vs. Alabama. 

Oregon vs. Baylor

Even though Oregon has built a strong national following, there's no doubt that a matchup between the Ducks and Baylor Bears would raise a few eyebrows. It's still unusual to see Baylor as a national power, despite ample evidence that has proven it is. 

Plus, in this era of football with offense taking over, who doesn't want to see a game involving the two high-scoring teams in the country? TCU also got consideration in this spot, but unlike the selection committee, it's hard for me to justify putting the Horned Frogs about the Bears with a head-to-head loss. 

Assuming Oregon takes care of business in the Pac-12, which seems safe given where things stand right now, Marcus Mariota will get a chance to play for college football's biggest prize for the first time in his three years as a starting quarterback. 

It would be a fitting end to Mariota's college career, if he decides to enter the NFL draft after the season, especially since he's made history already in 2014, via Kyle Ringo of The Daily Camera:

While you can't take away the one hiccup Oregon had against Arizona, few teams can claim to have been as consistent as the Ducks in 2014. They have scored at least 40 points in eight games coming into this week's matchup against Colorado and at least 38 in all of their wins. 

By comparison, Baylor has been putting up points like they are going out of style. The Bears have put up 45 points or more seven times and have yet to score less than 27 in any game.

It hasn't been the prettiest schedule for Art Briles' team, especially with Oklahoma faltering of late, but the committee thinks enough of what has happened to keep them in the mix.

For anyone criticizing Baylor's nonconference schedule, Shehan Jeyarajah of The Dallas Morning News notes the opponents fell off the map after the games were set:

"

Baylor’s non-conference slate took a huge hit this year, largely through no fault of the Bears. When they were scheduled, Buffalo and SMU were expected to be decent, even if not outstanding, non-conference opponents.

The Mustangs especially were considered to be a bowl-level opponent from what was a major enough conference, but SMU has inexplicably fallen off a cliff.

"

While that doesn't change how bad Buffalo and SMU are, Baylor can't be accused of trying to take the easy way out like some teams. It will also have one more chance to prove itself with a showdown against Kansas State on December 6. 

If the Bears take care of business in that game, it will be hard to ignore the potential of a game between them and the Ducks. It would also be fascinating to watch the betting lines and over/under come in for two teams that combine to average 96 points per game. 

Ohio State vs. Alabama

Going back to the Alabama well a second time might seem boring, but you have to consider what a showdown with Ohio State presents: Saban vs. Urban Meyer. Those two had some classic SEC battles when Meyer was coaching at Florida. 

Meyer may not have Tim Tebow quarterbacking his team anymore, but he's built an Ohio State program that's grown as much as any team in the country since the season started. For the last three years, we've heard how no one respects the Buckeyes. 

They went 12-0 in Meyer's first year as head coach but weren't eligible for a bowl game. There was some debate about whether the Buckeyes would have been among the top two teams in the BCS standings even if they were eligible.

Last year, after going 12-0 in the regular season, Ohio State was upended by Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game. That ended any hopes the team had of making it into the BCS Championship Game, and they wound up losing to Clemson in the Orange Bowl. 

Now, after losing early in the year to a bad Virginia Tech team, the Buckeyes have played as well as any team in the country. J.T. Barrett, who was making his second start against the Hokies, has already tied Drew Brees' record for touchdowns in a single season by a Big Ten quarterback, per ESPN Stats & Info:

This is the year where the Buckeyes have everything lined up to get the respect they so desire from the national media. They slayed the biggest beast on their schedule, knocking off Michigan State on the road, and are lurking around the top four just waiting for someone to slip. 

When that happens, the committee should have no problems bumping Ohio State up the ladder. Meyer is one of the best recruiters in the country and has done outstanding work helping Barrett grow into a star so quickly. What better way to prove how good he is than a showdown with Alabama in the College Football Playoff?

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