College Football Rankings 2014: Playoff Projections Ahead of Week 14 Release
Florida State was the only team in the latest edition of the College Football Playoff rankings that had any trouble winning this past weekend.
However, the Seminoles' standing in the postseason picture should be intact since they are still without a loss. Absent of any other massive upsets at the top, Tuesday's release of the Week 14 rankings shouldn't deviate from the prior established hierarchy.
While the top three spots should be solidified, there is a little more debate to go around thanks to a number of viable candidates in the running for the fourth and final spot.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Here is a closer look at the top projected teams that will occupy the first four slots in the Week 14 standings.
1. Alabama
Western Carolina did hang with the Crimson Tide for a time. When star Alabama receiver Amari Cooper exited with a knee injury, there was even further cause for alarm.
But the temporary red flags were little to worry about, as the Tide rallied in Tuscaloosa for a 48-14 triumph, able to rack up points against their inferior foe even without Cooper in the lineup.
The win won't earn Alabama any style points with the selection committee, but it was a deserved break following two great SEC victories at LSU in overtime and over prior No. 1 Mississippi State. As much as football is a team sport, this analysis from Bleacher Report's Matt Miller helps Alabama's case:
Since Cooper suffered a mere bruised knee, there's no need to panic or knock the Tide down a peg in the new rankings.
Alabama coach Nick Saban often sets out to prove that defense wins championships—and often succeeds in doing so. Conceding just 14.5 points per game ranks second nationally, and doing so in the SEC makes this year's team yet another Tuscaloosa juggernaut.
Even with non-elite quarterback play in the past, the Tide have found a way to win national championships. Fifth-year senior Blake Sims is doing enough to run the offense by dishing it to Cooper and also making plays with his legs to keep Alabama on course for the College Football Playoff's No. 1 seed.
2. Oregon
Quality wins over Michigan State and UCLA are looking better by the week, particularly since the Bruins are so esteemed in the selection committee's eyes.
An improving Ducks defense is doing a better job complementing the uptempo Oregon offense that's triggered by Heisman Trophy front-runner Marcus Mariota.
The dual-threat signal-caller made sure his team was up for an easy matchup with Colorado off a bye week, accounting for four total touchdowns in a 44-10 victory. ESPN's College GameDay accentuated Mariota's massive impact:
As long as Mariota keeps playing at such a high level, Oregon is going to be in the national title hunt.
A road trip to Oregon State should give the Ducks another quality victory against a rival considering the Beavers, though inconsistent, recently upset Arizona State and lost to Utah earlier in the year in overtime.
Then comes the Pac-12 title game, where Oregon could ascend to No. 1 in the rankings depending on what happens. Either way, the Ducks seem like a mortal lock for the Top Four.
3. Florida State
All the Seminoles do is win football games. For the 27th straight time, FSU came out on the proper end of Saturday's hard-fought ACC win over Boston College, 20-17.
Perhaps the best sign from that game came from reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, who looked as good passing the ball as he had all year in rainy conditions. Pro Football Focus' Steve Palazzolo offered the specifics:
Winston has to keep taking care of the football to keep the Seminoles' dreams of repeating as national champions alive.
ESPN Stats & Info points out just how tough Florida State has been when it matters most:
"Florida State is 11-0. In 5 of those games, the go-ahead score came with less than 8 minutes left in 4th quarter or in OT
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 23, 2014"
A rivalry clash with the Florida Gators is next, followed by the ACC Championship Game against a triple-option Georgia Tech offense. The Yellow Jackets run the ball as much as BC did and could control time of possession to try and bring an abrupt end to FSU's playoff hopes.
Critics—and perhaps even the committee—will continue to disparage the lack of quality wins and dominance the Seminoles have shown. They can't knock FSU out of the first four unless the reigning champions lose, though.
4. Mississippi State
Dak Prescott's Heisman campaign came to a halt in Tuscaloosa, but the dynamic playmaker had four touchdowns in one half of the Bulldogs' 51-0 shutout of Vanderbilt this last Saturday.
The Ole Miss Rebels, who are the only team this year to defeat Alabama, loom as the Bulldogs' big hurdle in Week 14—and the Egg Bowl rivalry clash is in Oxford.
Will Brinson of CBSSports.com observes how oddsmakers are projecting a tight clash in the all-Mississippi regular-season finale:
And it should be a close one, but if the Bulldogs truly have taken the next step and risen among college football's elite, they will take care of business on the road at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
A defense led by star linebacker Benardrick McKinney should help Mississippi State, yet the young Rebels have an extremely talented unit of their own. In a game that should boil down to the most important position, Prescott gives the Bulldogs a considerable edge.
The ankle injury to Ole Miss senior QB Bo Wallace impacted him and led to six turnovers in last week's 30-0 loss at Arkansas. It's hard to imagine that even the incentive of a rivalry game will spark the Rebels to a monumental upset, which will culminate in rare stability atop NCAA football.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
