TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — By finishing the regular schedule with just one loss and atop the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division the University of Alabama stayed No. 1 in this week’s rankings by the College Football Playoff Committee.

The stunner was that undefeated Florida State fell to No. 4 behind No. 3 TCU.

“I think they’re very close to being No. 3,” committee chairman Jeff Long said about Florida State on ESPN’s ranking show

Should the rankings hold firm Alabama (11-1) would meet the reigning national champion Seminoles in the semifinals at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 – assuming the Crimson Tide can get past No. 16 Missouri in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta (4 p.m. ET, CBS).

The other semifinal would see TCU squaring off against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

However, there’s still potential for more movement even if all the top teams win this weekend.

Oregon has a rematch with Oregon, the team it lost to during the regular season, in the Pac-12 title game.

TCU hosts Iowa State.

No. 5 Ohio State plays No. 13 Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship.

After struggling to beat Texas Tech 48-46 last week No. 6 Baylor hosts No. 9 Kansas State.

With Mississippi State falling to 10th, and Missouri so low, Alabama appears to be the SEC’s only opportunity at having a playoff team.
The Crimson Tide was ranked first in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls.

College Football Playoff Committee Rankings
1 Alabama 11-1
2 Oregon 11-1
3 TCU 10-1
4 Florida State 12-0
5 Ohio State 11-1
6 Baylor 10-1
7 Arizona 10-2
8 Michigan State 10-2
9 Kansas State 9-2
10 Mississippi State 10-2
11 Georgia Tech 10-2
12 Ole Miss 9-3
13 Wisconsin 10-2
14 Georgia 9-3
15 UCLA 9-3
16 Missouri 10-2
17 Arizona State 9-3
18 Clemson 9-3
19 Auburn 8-4
20 Oklahoma 8-3
21 Louisville 9-3
22 Boise State 10-2
23 Utah 8-4
24 LSU 8-4
25 USC 8-4