Super 16 Poll Week 15: Complete Rankings Released for 2014 Season
Every week, new rankings are released that provide a look at the new College Football Playoff and the overall Top 25. What the Super 16 Poll attempts to accomplish is provide a look at a potential 16-team bracket and which teams would be involved in the extended playoff.
There is currently only a four-team playoff, but we can dream of what the future might hold. Programs such as Mississippi State and UCLA might still stand a chance at a title while TCU and Baylor wouldn't have to worry as much about who is the better Big 12 team.
Here's a look at the most recent Super 16 Poll, Bleacher Report rankings and analysis of the standings.
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| 1 | Alabama (23) | 11-1 |
| 2 | Oregon (5) | 11-1 |
| 3 | Florida State (13) | 12-0 |
| 4 | TCU | 10-1 |
| 5 | Baylor | 10-1 |
| 6 | Ohio State | 11-1 |
| 7 | Michigan State | 10-2 |
| 8 | Arizona | 10-2 |
| 9 | Kansas State | 9-2 |
| 10 | Mississippi State | 10-2 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 10-2 |
| 12 | Georgia Tech | 10-2 |
| 13 | Missouri | 10-2 |
| 14 | Ole Miss | 9-3 |
| 15 | Georgia | 9-3 |
| 16 | UCLA | 9-3 |
Analysis
Alabama overtook Florida State in the Week 14 rankings and remains at the top spot—which goes along with both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls.
The Crimson Tide look like a powerhouse program again after dismantling rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Along with their results on the field, the Tide are also helped by Ole Miss' win over Mississippi State because their lone loss was against the Rebels.
SportsCenter also notes how critical the Iron Bowl victory has been in recent seasons:
Amari Cooper blew the top off Auburn's defense by tying his season-high 224 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the same game. Having weapons like Cooper, Blake Sims and T.J. Yeldon—who has 1,065 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns—gives the Tide one of the best offenses in the country.
If there were to be a 16-team playoff, Alabama would be the No. 1 seed. But it wouldn't be up to 'Bama alone to carry the SEC conference.
Following a loss to Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, Mississippi State is on the outside looking in under the current system. Head coach Dan Mullen spoke about the loss and shared his thoughts on the team's chances to make the playoff, per George Schroeder of USA Today:
"I didn’t think we were getting in the playoff, anyway. ... I’m sure we made a lot of people around the country happy. And maybe a lot of (selection) committee members breathed a big sigh of relief right now. They don’t have to consider it.
This is as tough as it gets. I don’t care about the stakes. This game is for bragging rights in the state. It’s the most important game we play. So obviously, it is a devastating loss.
"
Being one of the 16 teams in the playoff certainly wouldn't lessen the hurt after losing the Egg Bowl, but it would give the team a shot at a title. For a program that hasn't enjoyed as much success as some of its SEC counterparts, being in contention would be huge.
Along with the Bulldogs, Ohio State, TCU and Baylor wouldn't have to worry about results this weekend. Georgia Tech and Arizona might also have a chance at a title rather than playing in a bowl game with no implications.
The Super 16 Poll might not have any true significance at this point, but it should be interesting to see where each team lands moving forward. Several teams may be in favor of an expanded playoff, but it remains a pipe dream with only four getting in this year.
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