Florida climbs to No. 8 in latest CFP rankings
After Florida beat South Carolina and four top 10 teams lost last weekend, the Gators are moving on up in the College Football Playoff rankings.
UF has moved up three spots in the latest rankings to No. 8 overall, ahead of No. 9 Michigan State and No. 10 Baylor.
The top five of No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 5 Iowa remained the same, while No. 6 Oklahoma State and No. 7 Oklahoma sit ahead of Florida. The Sooners jumped ahead of the Gators after defeating Baylor this past weekend.
No. 11 Stanford, No. 13 Utah and No. 15 LSU all fell out of the top 10.
Now, Inside the Gators takes a look at the teams in the CFP rankings who still have the best shot at potentially making the final four.
NO. 1 CLEMSON (10-0)
Wins: Wofford, Appalachian State, Louisville, No. 4 Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Miami, North Carolina State, No. 14 Florida State, Syracuse
Remaining regular season games: Wake Forest, South Carolina
Current strength of schedule ranking: 34th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 50th
The skinny: The road to the CFP isn't too difficult for the Tigers, with certainly winnable games against Wake Forest and the Gamecocks to close out the regular season. Then, there's the ACC title game against likely opponent North Carolina that should serve as the final hurdle between Clemson and the playoff. Really, a loss at any point could potentially put the Tigers in dangerous territory.
NO. 2 ALABAMA (9-1)
Wins: No. 25 Wisconsin, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, No. 15 LSU, Mississippi State
Losses: No. 22 Ole Miss
Remaining regular season games: Charleston Southern, Auburn
Current strength of schedule ranking: 3rd
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 55th
The skinny: Since its loss to Ole Miss, Alabama has been a force to be reckoned with. Charleston Southern projects to be a dismantling, and the Crimson Tide shouldn't have a problem with Auburn. One of the playoff spots could come down to a Florida-Alabama SEC title game. A one-loss Alabama team as the SEC champion is a shoo-in. If Florida loses a game and then beats the Crimson Tide, then the SEC could very well be left out of the CFP this year.
NO. 3 OHIO STATE (10-0)
Wins: Virginia Tech, Hawaii, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, Minnesota, Illinois
Remaining regular season games: No. 9 Michigan State, No. 12 Michigan
Current strength of schedule ranking: 67th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 14th
The skinny: It's been an easy regular season up until this point for the Buckeyes (6-0 Big Ten), but now things get challenging with Michigan State (5-1 Big Ten) and Michigan (5-1 Big Ten) coming up. The matchup against the Spartans could determine the landscape of the East division. It's strength of schedule hasn't been impressive this season, so Ohio State cannot afford a loss in the next two or three weeks.
NO. 4 NOTRE DAME (9-1)
Wins: Texas, Virginia, Georgia Tech, UMass, No. 16 Navy, No. 24 USC, Temple, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest
Losses: No. 1 Clemson
Remaining regular season games (no conference championship game): Boston College, No. 11 Stanford
Current strength of schedule ranking: 25th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 28th
The skinny: With no conference championship game, the Fighting Irish are really the wild card of this whole CFP discussion and could end up making for a heated debate in December. Boston College is a winnable game, but Stanford could serve as a challenge for Notre Dame. If they win both, well, prepare to hear plenty of debates -- especially if the ACC, SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 all have viable contenders for CFP spots.
NO. 5 IOWA (10-0)
Wins: Illinois State, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, North Texas, No. 25 Wisconsin, Illinois, No. 20 Northwestern, Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota
Remaining regular season games: Purdue, Nebraska
Current strength of schedule ranking: 55th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 40th
The skinny: The Hawkeyes, who have played in some close games against unranked foes in recent weeks, will likely need to win out to reach the CFP. On paper, Purdue and Nebraska don't look too challenging, but the Cornhuskers are on a two-game winning streak that includes an upset victory over Michigan State. If Iowa reaches the Big Ten title game as expected, then it would need to defeat either Ohio State, Michigan State or Michigan to win the crown. Iowa would likely reach the CFP if it won out. A one-loss Iowa team winning the Big Ten championship could result in the conference missing out on the CFP.
NO. 6 OKLAHOMA STATE (10-0)
Wins: Central Michigan, Central Arkansas, UTSA, Texas, Kansas State, West Virginia, Kansas, Texas Tech, No. 18 TCU, Iowa State
Remaining regular season games (no conference championship game): No. 10 Baylor, No. 7 Oklahoma
Current strength of schedule ranking: 58th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 2nd
The skinny: An undefeated Oklahoma State team by the end of the year would certainly be up for CFP consideration -- and could potentially jump ahead of Notre Dame. That's why these next two weeks against Baylor and Oklahoma are so important for the Cowboys. Those games should determine who reigns supreme in the Big 12 -- and which team in that conference has the best shot at the playoff.
NO. 7 OKLAHOMA (9-1)
Wins: Akron, Tennessee, Tulsa, West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Iowa State, No. 10 Baylor
Losses: Texas
Remaining regular season games (no conference championship game): No. 18 TCU, No. 6 Oklahoma State
Current strength of schedule ranking: 44th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 4th
The skinny: With a bad loss to Texas already on their resume, the Sooners cannot afford a loss. Since that upset loss to the Longhorns, Oklahoma has been a roll. It will need to keep it up against TCU and Oklahoma State to stay alive in the CFP race.
NO. 8 FLORIDA (9-1)
Wins: New Mexico State, East Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, No. 22 Ole Miss, Missouri, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina
Losses: No. 15 LSU
Remaining regular season games: FAU, No. 14 Florida State
Current strength of schedule ranking: 31st
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 44th
The skinny: The road for Florida is clear - win out and you're in. FAU shouldn't give the Gators any trouble, but the two biggest obstacles standing between Florida and a CFP appearance are Florida State and likely SEC West champion Alabama in the conference championship game. One more loss at any point and UF is out of the hunt.
NO. 9 MICHIGAN STATE (9-1)
Wins: Western Michigan, No. 23 Oregon, Air Force, Central Michigan, Purdue, Rutgers, No. 12 Michigan, Indiana, Maryland
Losses: Nebraska
Remaining regular season games: No. 3 Ohio State, Penn State
Current strength of schedule ranking: 60th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 20th
The skinny: Every game is a must-win now for the Spartans - and the Ohio State contest is especially crucial this weekend. That game could very well determine the Big Ten East division landscape. With wins against Ohio State, Penn State and then likely Big Ten championship game West opponent Iowa, Michigan State would be in the playoff conversation -- although a few other external factors would maybe need to work in the Spartans' favor. It would make for an interesting debate, especially if Notre Dame is still there sitting at one loss.
NO. 10 BAYLOR (8-1)
Wins: SMU, Lamar, Rice, Texas Tech, Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa State, Kansas State
Losses: No. 7 Oklahoma
Remaining regular season games (no conference championship game): No. 6 Oklahoma State, No. 18 TCU, Texas
Current strength of schedule ranking: 75th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 18th
The skinny: After a disappointing home loss to Oklahoma last weekend, Baylor is essentially one loss away from being eliminated from the hunt. That doesn't look like an easy task with Oklahoma State and TCU still left on the schedule.
NO. 17 NORTH CAROLINA (9-1)
Wins: North Carolina A&T, Illinois, Delaware, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Duke, Miami
Losses: South Carolina
Remaining regular season games: Virginia Tech, North Carolina State
Current strength of schedule ranking: 72nd
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 11th
The skinny: The Tar Heels (6-0 ACC) are one more win away from reaching the conference championship game and setting up a date with No. 1 Clemson. If the Tar Heels can win out from here (and pull off that upset against the Tigers), it would make for an interesting debate following conference championship week for if they're worthy of a CFP berth. That early-season loss to South Carolina may end up being the one thing holding UNC back in that scenario, but obviously it would depend on a host of external factors.
NO. 18 TCU (9-1)
Wins: Minnesota, Stephen F. Austin, SMU, Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas State, Iowa State, West Virginia, Kansas
Losses: No. 6 Oklahoma State
Remaining regular season games (no conference championship game): No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 10 Baylor
Current strength of schedule ranking: 57th
Remaining strength of schedule ranking: 1st
The skinny: TCU has fallen far from the top 10 but has two opportunities ahead to lift itself back into the conversation. Two of TCU's top offensive talents, quarterback Trevone Boykin (ankle) and receiver Josh Doctson (wrist), are listed as questionable for the Oklahoma game. Like Baylor and Oklahoma, one more loss will eliminate TCU from the CFP hunt. With games against the Sooners and the Bears looming, that looks like a tall task for the Horned Frogs.
FULL RANKINGS:
1. Clemson (10-0)
2. Alabama (9-1)
3. Ohio State (10-0)
4. Notre Dame (9-1)
5. Iowa (10-0)
6. Oklahoma State (10-0)
7. Oklahoma (9-1)
8. Florida (9-1)
9. Michigan State (9-1)
10. Baylor (8-1)
11. Stanford (8-2)
12. Michigan (8-2)
13. Utah (8-2)
14. FSU (8-2)
15. LSU (7-2)
16. Navy (8-1)
17. North Carolina (9-1)
18. TCU (9-1)
19. Houston (10-0)
20. Northwestern (8-2)
21. Memphis (8-2)
22. Ole Miss (7-3)
23. Oregon (7-3)
24. USC (7-3)
25. Wisconsin (8-2)