Takeaways from the fifth College Football Playoff rankings
Following an uneventful weekend involving the nation’s handful of elite teams, the College Football Playoff committee made no major changes to their fifth rankings on Tuesday, keeping the same top six teams as last week heading into the rivalry weekend across college football.
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit is worried that Mississippi State (10-1) is beginning to lose traction in the No. 4 slot since the Bulldogs are behind the eight ball as a likely Western Division second-place finisher.
“When I say that, I’m talking about the possibility down the road in a couple weeks,” Herbstreit said. “As we continue to go along and everybody wins out, I believe that Baylor will lift their resume even with TCU and then head to head comes into play. This thing is going to change dramatically in the next two weeks and that will affect Mississippi State.”
Herbstreit says Florida State is the most likely current top four team that will keep its spot at season’s end.
“There’s something about this team that we’ve seen come up when they’ve trailed and then answer in the second half,” Herbstreit said. “As long as No. 5 is taking the snaps, I’m most confident that Florida State will be in the final four if they can beat Florida then Georgia Tech (in the ACC title game).”
Danny Kanell had a slightly different view on the Seminoles and picked Oregon as his top team.
“How many times can you play with fire before you get burned,” Kanell said.
Joey Galloway drew laughs from host Rece Davis and Kanell after his Alabama remarks.
“I still think there’s a chance since Alabama, ranked No. 1 right now, could lose to a Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and still make the Playoff,” he said.
Safe to say that’s a serious longshot.
Current top six in the CFP poll
- Alabama
- Oregon
- Florida State
- Mississippi State
- TCU
- Ohio State
RELATED: Examining this week’s CFP rankings
“Of all these teams jockeying for position, no one is being looked at more closely than Ohio State when it comes to style points,” Herbstreit said. “If they can win out and beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game, it’s going to come to that, getting them into the discussion as a conference champion against the likes of Mississippi State, TCU and Baylor.”
Quick SEC takeaways from the fifth CFP Top 25:
- Alabama is in the best position at No. 1 in control of its own destiny, but Mississippi State’s on uneven footing at No. 4 with several potential one-loss conferecne champions just behind the Bulldogs.
- In need of a Mizzou loss to reach Atlanta, two-loss Georgia is No. 9 this week.
- Auburn, after a less-than-impressive win over Samford, dropped a spot to No. 15.
- Ole Miss tumbled 11 spots to No. 19. East leader Mizzou moved up three spots to No. 17.
ESPN reaction from its analysts Tuesday night:
Rece Davis: “I think Ohio State’s good as anybody, but I don’t think it’s fair to throw out that loss to Virginia Tech due to Braxton Miller’s injury.”
Kirk Herbstreit: “All we’ve heard about (all season) is the SEC West’s strength. Now that the dust is settling, Mississippi State’s best win right now is No. 15 Auburn. Auburn at home and knocking off Arkansas is their best wins right now. They’re losing traction and it’s not looking good for Mississippi State.”
Danny Kanell: “Ohio State has the chance at style points against Indiana and didn’t get it. That could all change if (the Buckeyes) beat a Wisconsin in the conference championship game.”