The Path Is Clear for Committee's Dream College Football Playoff
Behind giant boardroom doors and in front of family-room flatscreens, the silent puppeteers of the College Football Playoff let loose a cartoonish smile Tuesday evening. They couldn't hold back.
If it were up to the engineers behind the postseason—the suits interested in monetizing eyeballs and interest—the playoff would start next Saturday. No more games. No more upsets. No more movement.
The latest Top Four in the College Football Playoff rankings—a collection of power brands, power coaches and star power—would be perfect companions this New Year's Eve, at least in their eyes.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 1 Clemson? Oh, the dancing coach and the magnificent young quarterback—maybe the Heisman Trophy winner—would play well with a national audience.
No. 2 Alabama? No team draws a crowd quite like the Tide in 2015. Those not rooting for them would tune in just to see them fall short. They are the ratings Holy Grail.
No. 3 Ohio State? You watched last year, yes? Best coach in the country, quarterbacks for days, ravenous fanbase and the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. What else do you need?
And No. 4 Notre Dame? Well, the Irish are just the cherry on top. The masses will flock to their televisions desperately hoping to see if they win or lose. It will be one or the other. Eyeballs galore.
This is how the playoff sits right now: four vacancies filled with four programs that would generate enormous viewership.
That part matters. It may not matter to the selection committee's final decision, although conspiracy theories will rain down regardless. And while ESPN won't openly express concern about competing with your New Year's Eve plans, it's not exactly shying away from it, either.
What's the perfect product to counter a busy night? Well, compelling storylines, of course.
The likelihood of the Top Four on Nov. 10 being in the final College Football Playoff contingent is remote. But right now, those invested in this giant circus would hit the pause button if they were allowed.
Thankfully for us—and for the likely madness that lies ahead—this is not the case. Let's continue.
As for other observations about the selection committee's second College Football Playoff Top 25, let's dive right in.
Iowa and Oklahoma State are No Longer Potential 'Chaos' Teams
They were fun stories a few weeks ago. We laughed about the potential and patted these teams on the head. Now, only two weeks into the selection committee's master reveals, Iowa and Oklahoma State look like genuine threats to destroy the dream scenario outlined above.
Following the Hawkeyes' win over Indiana, the selection committee bumped them up from No. 9 to No. 5. Iowa is the team suddenly swinging a bat in the on-deck circle. Losses by TCU and Michigan State certainly helped this, though the committee also seemed to have a newfound appreciation for the Hawkeyes.
"Iowa has shown consistent improvement, consistency on both sides of the ball," selection committee chair Jeff Long said on ESPN. "While they haven't been flashy, they've been solid."
Following a dominating win over the Horned Frogs, the Cowboys also watched their playoff stock soar. Positioned at No. 14 in the debut Top 25, the Pokes checked in at No. 8 a week later. With games against Baylor and Oklahoma still on tap, Mike Gundy's team has the opportunity to climb even higher.
Iowa is in complete control of its season—a phrase that will make most of the state's residents woozy. Although its remaining regular season opponents leave much to be desired, a potential tussle against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game looms.
And while Oklahoma State might not be in as favorable a situation, that could change quickly. Take both teams very seriously.
North Carolina Is Lurking
After a week on the sideline, North Carolina has been allowed into the party. The playoff bouncer didn't say a word. The Tar Heels are now No. 23 in the rankings, and quite frankly, that's not high enough.
A Week 1 loss may haunt them. Losing to South Carolina after a handful of disastrous red-zone plays—essentially a collection of YouTube fail videos—might ultimately seal North Carolina's fate as a playoff outsider. But for now, few teams are playing better.
After absolutely dismantling Duke in Week 10, UNC earned the committee's attention. With games against Miami, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State on tap, the possibility exists that the one-loss Tar Heels could play No. 1 Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.
While assuming victory in that matchup is premature, there is no question that North Carolina would present the biggest threat to the Tigers' undefeated season. And if UNC happened to come out on top in that game, how would the committee view the one-loss ACC champion?
The Tar Heels would still likely need help to crash that next party. But for a team situated not far from the floor of the Top 25, North Carolina feels dangerous. Keep an eye out.
It's Not Time for the Big 12 to Panic, But Do Take Note
Fear not, Big 12 fans. All is not lost.
Oklahoma State, as mentioned above, is in fine shape to carry the playoff banner. Other possibilities, headlined by Baylor and Oklahoma, exist as well.
With that being said, it appears the selection committee is struggling to evaluate the conference. When asked, the committee chair acknowledged just that.
"The committee has a difficult time evaluating teams that haven't had significant victories," Long said on ESPN.
Much has been made about the Big 12's back-loaded schedule, which kicked into motion Saturday. There is still time for resumes to grow stronger, which is precisely why the Cowboys are moving up fast.
But one can't ignore TCU's dramatic drop. After losing to Oklahoma State, the Horned Frogs fell from No. 8 to No. 15. That's enormous. It is the most notable plunge to date.
Gary Patterson's team has ample time to repair its reputation, but this tumble does not help the other teams lining up to play TCU, hoping for a boost with a victory.
An undefeated Big 12 team will have a tremendous case for the playoff; there is no denying that. But the early returns from the selection committee are not optimal.
Beware the Group of Five
The unlikely possibility of a Group of Five team making the College Football Playoff went up in flames when Memphis lost to Navy on Saturday. That chaos dream is dead; may it rest in peace.
Still, one can't help but admire the respect teams outside major conferences are receiving this season. Entering Week 11, the American Athletic Conference has as many teams in the selection committee's Top 25 as...wait for it...the SEC. No, really.
(This is not exactly a development we anticipated. What do we do with our hands?)
After their victory, the Midshipmen are the highest-rated Group of Five team at No. 20. Memphis is at No. 21, followed by Temple at No. 22 and Houston at No. 24.
With the Tigers and Cougars teeing it up Saturday, things won't stay stagnant for long. The movement will continue.
What does it all mean? In terms of the actual playoff and your New Year's Eve plans, not a great deal.
But the race for a marquee bowl game will be absolutely riveting down the stretch. And given the fact that the selection committee had zero Group of Five teams in its Top 25 at this point last year, the transformation from one year to the next is remarkable.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
