- Oklahoma got rewarded for beating Alabama, but not by a lot.
- Alabama’s season became shaky with its fall, and Texas’ CFP hopes are all but dead.
- There are some questionable teams in the bottom half of the rankings.
Some seismic events occurred in Week 12 that dramatically affected the College Football Playoff race. Did the selection committee react to those affairs correctly?
There’s no such thing as continuity in college football, evident in the latest weekend of action with two top 10 teams in Alabama and Texas losing while the teams that beat them in Georgia and Oklahoma boosting their resumes. Those results − among others − shifted how several squads are positioned, and there’s bound to be some elation or frustration from where they are slotted heading into Week 13.
With the pressure turning up on the selection committee with just two weeks left in the regular season, here are the grades for every single team in the Nov. 18 release of the College Football Playoff rankings.
1. Ohio State: A+
The Buckeyes have a strong grip on the No. 1 spot, and it would take a loss for Ohio State to go down the rankings.
2. Indiana: A+
No nail-biting was needed against Wisconsin, and Indiana affirms its positioning at the two spot.
3. Texas A&M: A+
After needing some dramatic heroics to beat South Carolina, the perfect record keeps Texas A&M from dropping down.
4. Georgia: A+
With Alabama’s loss and the win over Texas, the Bulldogs rightfully have a chance for a first-round bye.
5. Texas Tech: A
6. Mississippi: B+
It nearly got dangerous against Florida, yet Mississippi gets to move up a spot after a shaky performance.
7. Oregon: B-
The goal for Oregon is to obviously beat Southern California, but there has to be some worry about its fate if it doesn’t win.
8. Oklahoma: B
Beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa is one of the best wins of the season, but Oklahoma likely hoped for a bigger jump.
9. Notre Dame: A-
Dominating Pittsburgh was an impressive victory that could have rewarded Notre Dame with a move up, but the resume is hard to compare to the Sooners.
10. Alabama: C+
Even with four wins against ranked teams, Alabama was reminded the Florida State loss still carries weight, and the playoff outlook looks unfortunately shaky.
11. BYU: B-
The one-loss Cougars still have a chance for an at-large spot, but some more help is going to be needed.
12. Utah: B+
As long as BYU stays ahead, it’s a long shot for Utah to get into the field.
13. Miami: A-
Yes, Miami is the ACC’s best chance in the playoff. But the Hurricanes also don’t control their destiny for the automatic spot.
14. Vanderbilt: A
Good on the committee for not moving Vanderbilt up on an off week. It’ll be interesting to see if teams behind can leapfrog over the Commodores.
15. Southern California: A-
A case could be made for USC to jump ahead over Vanderbilt after a gritty win over Iowa, but the playoff still is possible if the Trojans beat Oregon.
16. Georgia Tech: D-
That was an odd performance against one-win Boston College. Georgia Tech should have dropped at least a spot.
17. Texas: D+
The dramatic free fall ensures Texas needs a miracle to make the playoff, but even with three losses, the resume is better than the Yellow Jackets.
18. Michigan: B-
The Wolverines get lucky staying put after they barely got past a scrappy Northwestern squad.
19. Virginia: B
The position still isn’t ideal, but the automatic spot through an ACC title remains more than possible for Virginia.
20. Tennessee: C+
Nothing much to brag about beating New Mexico State, yet Tennessee takes advantage of other teams losing and moves up three spots.
21. Illinois: A-
22. Missouri: C
By avoiding a three-game losing streak, Missouri gets to jump back in the rankings and help Alabama, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M look better.
23. Houston: F
Even at 8-2, Houston barely survived Central Florida and got outplayed by four-win West Virginia before that.