College Football Playoff Rankings Week 12: Oregon Jumps Over Florida State While TCU Leaps Bama
ByThe Florida State Seminoles took another step back in the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings despite staying unbeaten.
Taking their place at second overall was the Oregon Ducks, rising from fourth. Like most one-loss teams in the CFP top 10, the Ducks can seal their fate by winning out and they will see Colorado and Oregon State before the Pac-12 title game they seem destined to play in.
Florida State took another step back, indicating that the CFP committee is loosing confidence in the Seminoles. Despite beating Virginia 34-20, quarterback Jameis Winston threw two interceptions, making six in his last three games.
"We spent a lot of time discussing the merits of the top teams this week," selection committee chairman Jeff Long said in a press release. "We clearly look at the win/loss record, but we also look beyond the record to other factors indicating overall strength. Our thinking is consistent. Strength of schedule and body of work are important. Week in and week out, we will begin with a fresh look at all the teams and a clean sheet of paper which provides us with new perspective."
The committee also kept Alabama in fifth while raising TCU from sixth to fourth after convincingly beating Kansas State 41-20. They also seem to have the easiest road in the Big 12 to win out.
Alabama, on the other hand, will not stay in fifth one more week, as they are scheduled to play Mississippi State on Saturday and Auburn on Nov. 29 in the annual Iron Bowl. The SEC West seems destined to have a CFP team whether or not they win the conference title.
Outside the top five, there are still teams that can still take a playoff slot, like Arizona State, Baylor and Ohio State, all teams whose best shot is to win out and take their respective conference title.