NCAA Football Rankings 2015: Examining Playoff Landscape Ahead of Week 8
As the college football season approaches Week 8, some teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack. While there are 14 undefeated teams still in both polls and a few one-loss teams with a chance, there are a few schools that control their own destiny when it comes to the College Football Playoff.
Here is a look at the Associated Press poll that was released Sunday:
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While the poll plays a part in the four teams that qualify for the playoff and matches up as of this week, it isn't the be-all and end-all. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee will ultimately decide the final four teams to play for the national championship. Here is a look at how the four-team playoff would shake out if the season ended today:
| Team | Record | AP Poll | CFP Rank |
| Ohio State | 7-0 | 1 | 1 |
| Baylor | 6-0 | 2 | 2 |
| Utah | 6-0 | 3 | 3 |
| TCU | 7-0 | 4 | 4 |
A lot is going to change between now and December, when the final selections are made, and one thing you can count on is the loser of the TCU Horned Frogs vs. Baylor Bears game will find itself on the outside looking in.
Below is a projection of which teams will be playing for the coveted national title.
(1) Ohio State Buckeyes
There is no getting around the fact that Ohio State is one of the best teams in the country. It has won 20 games in a row dating back to early last year, including the first College Football Playoff National Championship last season.
However, it hasn't been all peaches and cream for the Scarlet and Gray this season. The Buckeyes defeated the unranked Northern Illinois Huskies and Indiana Hoosiers by just seven points each and faced an odd "quarterback controversy" between Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett earlier in the season, according to Chase Goodbread of NFL.com. Now it could be resurfacing again, according to Ryan Ginn of Scout.
Even with that, the Buckeyes have continued to roll and still have not left the field without a "W" this season. With a strength of schedule ranked 48th, according to TeamRankings.com, let's just say their chance of losing before the semifinals is slim. Their biggest possible hiccup is a game against the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines in late November.
(2) Baylor Bears
Even though the Bears have been the most dominant offensive team this season, averaging more than 63 points per game, Baylor fans have a right to be cautious about their team qualifying for the CFP. Last season, the Bears finished 11-1 before the playoff, with the only blemish being a road loss to West Virginia. However, they didn't qualify after the Big 12 Conference failed to announce a champion when Baylor tied TCU for the regular-season conference crown.
In reality, Baylor fans, you really shouldn't worry. The closest resemblance of a loss was actually a 63-35 victory Oct. 3 against Texas Tech. Sure, they have ranked teams in three of their next five matchups, but none can handle the offense head coach Art Briles has assembled.
The Bears' game at TCU will be tough, but even the high-flying Horned Frogs offense, ranked second in the country in points per game, scores nearly two touchdowns less per contest than Baylor. To make matters worse for undefeated TCU, its defense allowed 45 points to the Kansas State Wildcats and 52 to Texas Tech. Imagine what Baylor might do.
Baylor fans, book your tickets to the Cotton Bowl now.
(3) LSU Tigers
Leonard Fournette. Ever heard of him?
The sophomore running back for the Tigers may just carry LSU to the CFP himself. Recently, he became just the 10th back to reach the 1,000-yard mark during his team's first five games, according to Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune.
The Tigers defense has been OK and has yet to allow an opponent to score 30 points in a game, but Fournette is the reason the Tigers are still undefeated. His "worst" game of the season was a 158-yard, one-touchdown performance against South Carolina. He's also had games of 228, 233 and 244 yards. His 1,202 yards ranks first in the country, and he is tied for first with 14 rushing touchdowns.
ESPN College Football on Twitter showed everyone that he takes his role very seriously.
Sure, the Tigers have to travel to Alabama during the regular season, but they have won five of the past seven meetings in Tuscaloosa. Even if the Tigers trip up against the Crimson Tide, they have a shot to win the SEC West, and one loss at Alabama shouldn't be enough to drop them out of the playoff picture once the dust settles.
(4) Clemson Tigers
The term "Clemsoning" may take on a whole different meaning by the time this season ends. The slang term is used when a team loses a game it shouldn't or continues to fail on the big stage, because some perceive that that is what the Tigers do. However, just don't mention it to head coach Dabo Swinney.
Laken Litman of USA Today reported that Swinney was asked a question in a press conference that contained the term, even after Clemson knocked off a ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish team. His response told everyone exactly what he thought about the label:
"I’m sick of it. I don’t even know why you bring up the dagum word? How about these other teams who lose to unranked teams all the time? We ain’t lost to anyone unranked since 2011, but I have to come to a press conference in 2015 and get asked that. And that’s all media bull crap.
"
Clemson has had some close calls, including the two-point win against Notre Dame and a three-point victory at Louisville. However, the fact that the Tigers came out victorious in those games shows what kind of resolve this team has shown.
Its biggest test comes Nov. 7, when undefeated Florida State comes to town. But make no mistake, this is not Jameis Winston's Seminoles team. In the past two seasons, the Seminoles have lost Winston, running back Devonta Freeman, wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and others to the NFL. Even in a down ACC, the Seminoles can't crack the top four in pass or rush offense.
The Tigers should benefit from a lack of overall talent in the ACC. Once they get past Florida State, it will be hard for the selection committee to turn down an undefeated conference champion in Clemson.
Just missed the cut: TCU, Utah, Michigan State
.jpg?w=600 "🚨 Giants Picking 5th and 10th")