Another week and another team within the final four bites the dust. We are getting closer and closer to seeing the playoff committee reveal their rankings, and from the looks of things they are going to have some tough choices to make.
Several teams remain undefeated, but you can now remove Utah from equation after USC took out some frustrations on them out in Los Angeles this past weekend.
Here are where I have things sitting as of today.
The Final Four:
- Ohio State
With JT Barrett back under center, the Buckeyes looked like a well-oiled machine against Rutgers. Barrett showed that he is the guy that needs to be starting going forward and he looked like the guy who was flirting with a trip to New York before his injury late in the season. If the Buckeyes keep playing like this offensively, they will be right in this spot come December.
- Baylor
The Bears had no problem putting away Iowa State and have a Heisman contender in Corey Coleman, who will probably catch 25+ touchdowns. That’s the good news. The bad news is that starting quarterback Seth Russell has been ruled out for the season with a neck injury, and now they have to turn to true freshman Jarrett Stidham. Things could get interesting down the home stretch for the Bears.
- TCU
The Frogs enjoyed a bye week as they get prepared to take on West Virginia. With the news of Seth Russell being out for the year down in Waco, the Frogs will more than likely be favored in their matchup against the Bears for the Big 12 crown.
- LSU
The Tigers were not expected to make a lot of noise this year, but don’t tell them that. The Bayou Bengals just keep on winning, and behind the arm of Brandon Harris and legs of Leonard Fournette they will have a chance against anyone they play. The big game down in Tuscaloosa will more than likely decide who takes the SEC West this year.
Missed The Cut:
- Clemson
The Tigers made easy work of Miami this weekend and essentially got Al Golden fired ahead of schedule. The ACC crown is right there for the taking for Clemson, but will they pull a Clemson before it is all said and done?
- Alabama
The Crimson Tide got into a nail biter with Tennessee over the weekend, but the defense was able to seal the deal late. The offense isn’t a juggernaut, but that defense is stout in the front seven and will make life tough on any offense they go up against.
- Michigan State
Despite the Spartans beating up on Indiana over the weekend, I am still not buying too much stock in them just yet. They are in the conversation, but I have a hard time buying them getting in unless they somehow run the table.
- Stanford
It is crazy seeing how well the Cardinal is playing after how they looked week one. Christian McCaffrey is looking like a Heisman contender and David Shaw’s bunch is looking like legit Pac-12 contenders again.
- Notre Dame
Nobody has been more snake bitten with injuries than Notre Dame, nobody. Yet here they are just outside of the Final Four and only with one close loss to undefeated Clemson on their resume. If it wasn’t for the injuries, you could probably make a case for the Fighting Irish being the most talented team in the country.
- Iowa
How about them Hawkeyes??? I didn’t think I would be talking about Iowa being in the playoff discussion, but as things sit currently they are undefeated. After thrashing Northwestern this past weekend, the rest of their schedule sets up very favorably and they have a legit chance to head into the Big 10 championship game undefeated.