SEC or Big Ten? Big Ten or SEC?

It’s a debate stretching back years, if not decades. And it’s at the center of any conversation about the College Football Playoff in 2021, perhaps more than ever.

Of the top 11 teams in this week’s Associated Press poll (yeah, we know, that doesn’t set the Playoff field, but we don’t have CFP rankings yet), 8 are from the SEC or B1G.

The race got even crazier Saturday when No. 1 Alabama fell at unranked Texas A&M. That ended the common assumption that Bama and Georgia would both run the table and cruise to the SEC Championship Game with unblemished records.

But as happens every October, there are plenty of really good teams with a loss already. Of the 12 teams on our CFP list this week, 4 have tasted defeat in the first half of the season: Bama, Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon.

There’s one unbeaten Power 5 team not accounted for in our list below: ACC leader Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are 6-0 for the first time since 1944 – a really nice story. But the ACC is so weak this year that it’s going to be really difficult for the league to break back into the CFP conversation.

These 12 teams are listed in the order that they are ranked in the new AP poll.

Georgia

The Bulldogs kept marching through their schedule with a 34-10 win over Auburn. The Tigers didn’t do a lot on offense – 10 points, 318 total yards. But that was the second-most points and most yards UGA has allowed in a game, speaking to utter Dawgs dominance on defense.

Iowa

Speaking of terrific defenses, the Hawkeyes are allowing an average of 13 points a game, No. 4 in FBS, even after Penn State put 20 points on them Saturday. For once, a big pass (Spencer Petras to Nico Ragaini for the 44-yard winning touchdown) was the big story for Iowa in that win.

Cincinnati

The Bearcats rose to No. 3, their highest AP poll position in program history, after drubbing Temple 52-3 on Friday. The best thing for Cincinnati’s CFP candidacy is for No. 23 SMU (6-0) to remain unbeaten until UC meets the Mustangs on Nov. 20 (and for Notre Dame to win a lot, too).

Oklahoma

Somehow, some way, despite every flaw the Sooners’ 58th-ranked total defense has, Lincoln Riley’s team remains unbeaten. Saturday’s 55-48 comeback win over Texas, from a 28-7 deficit, was the 5th one-score win in 5 games against FBS opposition this season.

Alabama

This is the way of life in Tuscaloosa: Immediately after the program’s 19-game winning streak was snapped, the thoughts must turn to a path for the Crimson Tide to break back into CFP contention. Of greater concern is the fact that Bama allowed 285 passing yards to A&M backup QB Zach Calzada.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes continued to feast on inferior opposition by routing Maryland as CJ Stroud became the first quarterback in school history with 5 TDs and 0 INTs in consecutive games. OSU has risen to 34th in scoring defense and 78th in total defense as the stink of a couple of bad early performances fades.

Penn State

The Nittany Lions took their first loss on Saturday at Iowa, but the bigger concern is the health of QB Sean Clifford, who left the game with an injury. Penn State still has its B1G East Division fate in its hands, but it’s hard to see this team running the table from here on out without its veteran quarterback.

Michigan

The Wolverines got their first real scare of the season, needing a field goal with 1:24 left to escape Nebraska with a win. Michigan is 8th in FBS in rushing offense at 246.5 yards per game, and had 204 yards on 42 carries (4.9 ypc) after averaging less than 3 yards per rush in the previous 2 games.

Oregon

Honestly, we still don’t think the Ducks have much of a chance to build their résumé enough to get back into CFP contention after last week’s loss to Stanford. Arizona State is the only other ranked team in the Pac-12 and Oregon doesn’t play the Sun Devils in the regular season.

Michigan State

The Spartans have been one of the best turnaround stories in college football this season, rising up the ranks on the heels of a 2-5 record in a 2020 season shortened by COVID-19. MSU is 15th in FBS in total offense, but that defense, ranked 95th, is a major concern as bigger games loom.

Kentucky

The Wildcats are 6-0 for the first time since 1950, when a guy named “Bear” was the head coach in Lexington. Wins in consecutive weeks over Florida and LSU have opened a lot of eyes and UK’s average of 214 rushing yards per game matches up in an intriguing way vs. Georgia’s salty run D this week.

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys, coming off of their bye week, have quietly gotten though back-to-back Big 12 games against then-ranked foes unscathed. This week comes another one in Texas. Oklahoma State has an unusual situation in the Big 12: A strong defense (ranked 21st) but a questionable offense (81st).