7-Step Drop: College Football Playoff Went from Chaos to Clarity

On Saturday night, it was almost as if Bob Stoops was watching on television with the rest of us.

Deep into the third quarter, up big against Bedlam rival Oklahoma State, the Oklahoma head coach took a timeout to discuss options on third down in the red zone. That break in action allowed everybody at home (and those of us in the Boone Pickens Stadium press box) to quickly switch to the action on the West Coast and see the final few ticks of Stanford-Notre Dame.

After some dramatic late-game (mis)management on both sides, Conrad Ukropina's 45-yard field goal sailed through the uprights to set off a raucous celebration on the Farm.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

It was a remarkable comeback for the Cardinal in the final stages of an incredible back-and-forth game (complete with some...interesting clock management by Stanford head coach David Shaw). While it was undoubtedly a great moment in a rivalry that has become as good as any in recent memory, the people who may have been celebrating just as hard as those in Stanford, California, were the 12 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee.

After making a controversial call in the inaugural edition of the playoff, this season the committee has seen its choices go from murky to crystal clear. The top four is essentially set, and the only thing left to discuss on Saturday and Sunday when it meets in the Dallas area may just be seeding.

There's no debate between Oklahoma and Notre Dame. The Big Ten will sort itself out for one spot. Clemson's in a win-and-you're-in scenario. Alabama is a lock considering the state of Florida at the moment.

There will be no TCU-Baylor dispute. There will be no team from a Power Five conference with a legitimate gripe that it was left out. As far as drama, we'll be looking elsewhere.

It's all so bizarre but, at the same time, fitting. Each week this season, chaos reigned. Heck, on Saturday, we had LSU head coach Les Miles carried off the field like a conquering hero only to learn a decision had been made in the third quarter to let him keep his job. And, as the regular season all but charged on toward 2007-like chaos, we ended up with a solid final four and a whole lot of teams that played their way in or out of a spot in the playoff field.

Now, Clemson could certainly lay an egg against a North Carolina team that has seemingly shifted into another gear. If that were to happen, the UNC-Stanford debate would be interesting, and there's even Ohio State on the outside, lurking. It does add a dash of interest to championship week. There are several interesting games but also the potential for a number of blowouts.

But if everything holds in the final week, there should be no debating, no arguing and no handwringing this year. There will be no disagreements over "One True Champion" and no team dropping from No. 3 to No. 6 after a 52-point win.

For that, Thanksgiving weekend was truly a time for the selection committee to give thanks.

Stats of the Week

• Your FBS regular-season scoring champion is Boise State's Jeremy McNichols with 138 points. Interestingly, Broncos tailback Jay Ajayi shared the award last year with Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon.

• Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey ended the regular season leading the country in all-purpose yards at 252.9 per game. That's 52.1 more per game and 600 more total than his closest competitor. Interestingly, that player, Tyler Ervin, is just 20 miles down the road at San Jose State.

• Penn State closed out the regular season tied with Arizona State for the most sacks in the FBS with 44. The Nittany Lions and Sun Devils also finished tied for 119th in sacks allowed with 39.

• Iowa is 12-0 for the first time in school history thanks to quarterback C.J. Beathard, who is 13-0 as the Hawkeyes starting quarterback.

• TCU extended its first-quarter touchdown streak to 25 games, a Big 12 record and tied for the nation's longest streak since 1996 (Stanford, 2009-11), per Jamie Plunkett of SB Nation. The Horned Frogs also limited Baylor to 62 yards passing Friday, the Bears' lowest total since 2002.

• Ohio State is 18-0 in true road games under head coach Urban Meyer. Against Michigan, tailback Ezekiel Elliott passed Eddie George (3,768 yards) for second on Ohio State's all-time rushing list.

• Virginia Tech gave head coach Frank Beamer his 20th win over rival Virginia and became bowl-eligible for the 23rd straight year, the longest active streak in the NCAA record book.

• Oklahoma has no need to campaign, but the Sooners improved to 5-0 against AP Top 25 opponents this year at the time of competition. No other Big 12 team has more than one win against an AP-ranked foe.

Quote of the Week

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott after seeing how many carries (46) Alabama's Derrick Henry had in the Iron Bowl.

Play of the Week

Tweet of the Week

Sound from Saturday

Pre-Snap Reads

Alabama vs. Florida

Blood. There will be blood. Judging by the way Florida head coach Jim McElwain sounded Monday, the Gators harbor little belief they can slay the Alabama giant.

Iowa vs. Michigan State

If Michigan State hadn't rolled against Penn State and started to find its groove, I would have gone with Iowa in an upset. I think this will still be close and come down to the end, but it's the Spartans who punch their ticket to the playoff.

Houston vs. Temple

Sorry for doubting you, Houston. That was an impressive win against Navy, and the Cougars excelled on both sides of the ball. They're the pick at home to get to a New Year's Six bowl game, but expect this one to be a bit of a shootout with Temple keeping things close until late in the second half.

Bryan Fischer is a national college football columnist at Bleacher Report. You can follow him @BryanDFischer.