Florida State Climbs to No. 4 in College Football Playoff Rankings
Florida State and its fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the Seminoles have once again secured a spot in the top four teams, despite the absence of injured star quarterback Jordan Travis. The College Football Playoff selection committee moved the undefeated Seminoles up to the No. 4 spot after their 24-15 victory over unranked Florida. This promotion not only validates the committee’s belief in FSU’s talent beyond Travis, but it also happened because of Ohio State’s loss to Michigan, which opened up the No. 4 spot.
Florida State’s Path to the Playoff
Florida State’s path to the playoff seems clear. With an ACC championship game against No. 14 Louisville and three wins against CFP top 25 teams, the undefeated ACC champs have a strong case for inclusion. Even with a less-than-stellar performance from backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker, it would be extremely difficult for the committee to exclude Florida State with an ACC title and wins against No. 13 LSU, No. 14 Louisville, and No. 23 Clemson.
Playoff Paths for the Top 8 Teams
Each of the top eight teams has a unique path to reach the four-team playoff. Here’s what they need to do:
No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Washington, and No. 4 Florida State
These teams would secure their spots as undefeated conference champions if they win their respective league titles. However, it’s worth noting that there haven’t been four undefeated Power 5 conference champions since 1992, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
No. 5 Oregon
Oregon’s path to the playoff involves winning the Pac-12 title and hoping that Georgia wins the SEC championship game. If Oregon beats Washington and Georgia defeats Alabama, a top-four finish for the Ducks seems likely. However, if Alabama beats Georgia and Texas wins the Big 12, Oregon’s status as the top one-loss team would come into question. Oregon would need to be compared side-by-side with Alabama, Texas, Georgia, and Ohio State to secure a playoff spot.
No. 6 Ohio State
Ohio State’s path to the playoff relies on a series of upsets. The Buckeyes would need Georgia to beat Alabama, Florida State to lose to Louisville, Texas to lose to Oklahoma State, and Washington to eliminate Oregon. If all of these scenarios play out, the top four would likely be Georgia, Michigan, Washington, and Ohio State. However, if Oregon wins the Pac-12, Ohio State and Washington would be compared for the fourth spot, and Ohio State’s wins against No. 10 Penn State and No. 17 Notre Dame might not be enough to secure the spot.
No. 7 Texas
For Texas to make the playoff, they need to win the Big 12 title and hope that Florida State loses and Georgia beats Alabama. In this scenario, the top four would likely be Georgia, Michigan, the Pac-12 champion, and Texas. Although Ohio State could be a contender for the fourth spot, Texas’ win against Alabama would give them an edge.
No. 8 Alabama
Alabama’s path to the playoff involves winning the SEC championship and hoping that Texas loses. Alternatively, if Florida State wins and Texas loses, the top four could be Michigan, the Pac-12 champion, Florida State, and Alabama. In both scenarios, Alabama’s win against the top team in the SEC and Texas’ win against the SEC champs would be significant factors in their favor.
A Glimpse into a 12-Team Playoff
If a 12-team College Football Playoff were in place this season, Ohio State would still have a secure place in the bracket despite their loss to Michigan. The six highest-ranked conference champions would receive automatic bids, while the next six highest-ranked teams would get at-large bids. The top four league champions would receive first-round byes. Georgia, Michigan, Washington, and Florida State would all receive first-round byes in this scenario.
First-Round Matchups
The first-round matchups in a 12-team playoff would be as follows:
– No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Oregon
– No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 6 Ohio State
– No. 10 Penn State at No. 7 Texas
– No. 9 Missouri at No. 8 Alabama
These matchups would provide exciting games and set the stage for the quarterfinals.