Let the “fixing” theories begin
After much controversy and confusion surrounding the College Football rankings for the first ever playoff this year, more uncertainty continues as the selection committee releases their final rankings of the season.
Some people argued that unbeaten Florida State deserved to be ranked higher than they were for most of the season and if the Seminoles were being shaded because of Jameis Winston and his ongoing court proceedings. The argument was that their strength of schedule didn’t matchup to that of Alabama or Oregon, even if they escaped close wins a number of times.
There were also folks that questioned whether TCU or Baylor would sneak into the playoff race and finish in the Top 4 spots, but when it was all said and done, that did not happen.
1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Florida State
4. Ohio State
On the outside looking in are Big 12 co-champions Baylor and TCU, who were leapfrogged by Ohio State after they won the Big 10 title against Wisconsin in a convincing 59-0 fashion. The committee felt like strength of schedule and the fact the Buckeyes ended the season dominating, even with setbacks (they played with a third string quarterback), they deserved the last spot in the playoffs.
TCU was previously ranked No. 3 last week, but a head-to-head factor bumped them down all the way to finish the year at No. 6 in the rankings.
With the championship game, Ohio State demonstrated that they were a total team. They did overcome replacing two quarterbacks, and that’s a tremendous statement about the quality of their team. With a conference championship in the Big Ten, with a win over the Western Division champion, Wisconsin, it was decisive for Ohio State to move into that fourth spot. When it came down, with TCU and Baylor, that debate of strength of schedule versus head-to-head. In this case, head-to-head was the deciding factor between Baylor and TCU.”
Alabama and Ohio State will not face each other in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday January 1, while Oregon will take on defending champion Florida State will match in the Rose Bowl.