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In the third rankings released by the Playoff committee, four different conferences were represented in the football final four. Guess which league was left out: the B1G! Womp, womp. Not all is lost, however. Ohio State makes a big jump into the top ten at #8, and if the Buckeyes win out, they'll have a good chance at making the cut.
There is a huge matchup this weekend in Tuscaloosa, as #1 Mississippi State visits #5 Alabama for a possible claim to the top spot. If the Bulldogs lose, it's not a given that they drop out of the top four. If the Crimson Tide lose at home, it is likely a death knell for Nick Saban. Beyond those two teams, the SEC really doesn't have a lot of options left, as Ole Miss is all the way back at #10. The Rebels could have a chance if they win out and beat handily a hot #15 Georgia team (especially if Todd Gurley is back), but it's unlikely.
Meanwhile, the Pac-12 and Big 12 have a lot of season left to decide the winner of each conference, and therefore the possible rep for the Playoff. #2 Oregon is in the lead out west, but #6 Arizona State isn't far behind. If those two teams win out to make the Pac-12 Championship, the winner is likely headed for a Playoff game. Meanwhile, #4 TCU and #7 Baylor could make things complicated for the committee. Baylor has the head-to-head win over the Horned Frogs, but TCU is ranked higher and has a win over currently #25 Minnesota. If both teams win out, it'll be interesting to see who the committee chooses for the Playoff.
And of course, there's #3 Florida State. A berth for the Seminoles seems all but decided, as the schedule is fairly weak going forward, including whoever wins the Coastal division.
| Rank | Team | Last week | Week 11 result | Toughest opponent left (per F/+) | If the season ended today ... |
| 1 | Mississippi State (9-0) | 1 | Won 45-16 vs. Tennessee-Martin | Alabama | Sugar Bowl vs. TCU |
| 2 | Oregon (9-1) | 4 | Won 51-27 at No. 17 Utah | Oregon State | Rose Bowl vs. Florida State |
| 3 | Florida State (9-0) | 2 | Won 34-20 vs. Virginia | Miami | Rose Bowl vs. Oregon |
| 4 | TCU (8-1) | 6 | Won 41-20 vs. No. 7 Kansas State | Texas | Sugar Bowl vs. Mississippi State |
| 5 | Alabama (8-1) | 5 | Won 20-13 (OT) at No. 16 LSU | Auburn | Orange Bowl vs. Clemson |
| 6 | Arizona State (8-1) | 14 | Won 55-31 vs. No. 10 Notre Dame | Arizona | New Year's bowl |
| 7 | Baylor (8-1) | 13 | Won 48-14 at No. 15 Oklahoma | Kansas State | New Year's bowl |
| 8 | Ohio State (8-1) | 14 | Won 49-37 at No. 8 Michigan State | Minnesota | New Year's bowl |
| 9 | Auburn (7-2) | 3 | Lost 41-38 vs. Texas A&M | Alabama | New Year's bowl |
| 10 | Ole Miss (8-2) | 12 | Won 48-0 vs. Presbyterian | Mississippi State | New Year's bowl |
| 11 | UCLA (8-2) | 18 | Won 44-30 at Washington | USC | New Year's bowl |
| 12 | Michigan State (7-2) | 8 | Lost 49-37 vs. No. 14 Ohio State | Maryland | |
| 13 | Kansas State (7-2) | 7 | Lost 41-20 at No. 6 TCU | Baylor | |
| 14 | Arizona (7-2) | 19 | Won 38-20 vs. Colorado | Arizona State | |
| 15 | Georgia (7-2) | 20 | Won 63-31 at Kentucky | Auburn | |
| 16 | Nebraska (8-1) | 13 | Idle | Wisconsin | |
| 17 | LSU (7-3) | 16 | Lost 20-13 (OT) vs. No. 5 Alabama | Arkansas | |
| 18 | Notre Dame (7-2) | 10 | Lost 55-31 at No. 9 Arizona State | Louisville | |
| 19 | Clemson (7-2) | 21 | Won 34-20 at Wake Forest | Georgia Tech | Orange Bowl vs. Alabama |
| 20 | Wisconsin (7-2) | 25 | Won 34-16 at Purdue | Nebraska | |
| 21 | Duke (8-1) | 22 | Won 27-10 at Syracuse | Virginia Tech | |
| 22 | Georgia Tech (8-2) | 24 | Won 56-23 at NC State | Georgia | |
| 23 | Utah (6-3) | 17 | Lost 51-27 vs. No. 4 Oregon | Arizona | |
| 24 | Texas A&M (7-3) | NR | Won 41-38 at No. 3 Auburn | LSU | |
| 25 | Minnesota (7-2) | NR | Won 51-14 vs. Iowa | Ohio State |
For reference, here is this week's AP, USA Today Coaches', and Computer composite polls to compare the playoff committee's rankings:
| AP | Coaches | Computer composite | |
| 1 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | Alabama |
| 2 | Florida State | Florida State | Mississippi St |
| 3 | Oregon | Alabama | Auburn |
| 4 | Alabama | Oregon | Ole Miss |
| 5 | TCU | TCU | TCU |
| 6 | Baylor | Baylor | Oregon |
| 7 | Arizona State | Ohio State | Florida State |
| 8 | Ohio State | Arizona State | Baylor |
| 9 | Auburn | Auburn | Ohio State |
| 10 | Ole Miss | Ole Miss | Georgia |
| 11 | Nebraska | Nebraska | LSU |
| 12 | Michigan State | Michigan State | Arizona State |
| 13 | Kansas State | Kansas State | Kansas State |
| 14 | UCLA | Georgia | Michigan State |
| 15 | Notre Dame | UCLA | Nebraska |
| 16 | Georgia | Notre Dame | Oklahoma |
| 17 | Arizona | Clemson | UCLA |
| 18 | Clemson | Arizona | Clemson |
| 19 | Duke | Duke | Notre Dame |
| 20 | LSU | LSU | Marshall |
| 21 | Marshall | Marshall | Wisconsin |
| 22 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Texas A&M |
| 23 | Colorado State | Georgia Tech | Arizona State |
| 24 | Georgia Tech | Oklahoma | USC |
| 25 | Utah | Colorado State | Duke |