The first slate of College Football Playoff rankings were unveiled Tuesday night, and there was plenty of controversy over how the back end of the top four played out.
Here's how the top teams stack up as of now, and games each team needs to have circled on their respective calendars. Included is what needs to play out in order for these squads to at least be considered for the College Football Playoffs.
No. 1 Alabama (8-0) — coming off a bye
at LSU, No. 5
vs. Auburn, No. 26
After throwing together dominant wins throughout the season, the Tide just need to hold court, continue to run the table and win the SEC title to have a guaranteed spot. A loss against LSU or Auburn could open the door for either squad to run the table, take Alabama's spot in the SEC title game and leave the Tide high and dry outside of the College Football Playoffs.
The only scenario where a loss is ok, is if Alabama loses to Auburn, Texas A&M wins out and there's a three-way tie atop the SEC. The Tide would win that and then move on to the SEC title game.
No. 2 Clemson (8-0) — W, 37-34 over Florida State
ACC championship game
Clemson has rolled through its toughest competition with wins over Auburn, Louisville and Florida State already. No slip-ups against Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest or a sneaky decent South Carolina team and the Tigers should waltz right into the College Football Playoffs. An ACC title game against either North Carolina or Virginia Tech should be a breeze for the refocused Tigers.
No. 3 Michigan (8-0) — W, 32-23 over Michigan State
at Ohio State, No. 26
Any opponents thrown in Michigan's way this season has been pushed aside, including a top-10 Wisconsin team in a hard-fought 14-7 victory. Following a handful of winnable games, the Wolverines' season will be on the line in a contest against Ohio State. A loss to the Buckeyes would send Ohio State to the Big Ten championship game assuming no other in-conference losses for Michigan. And that could be devastating in pushing the Wolverines out of contention.
No. 4 Texas A&M (7-1) — W, 52-10 over New Mexico State
vs. Ole Miss, Nov. 12
vs. LSU, Nov. 24
With momentum on its side, the Aggies need to win out in order to stay in the running for the CFP. A statement win over LSU could push Texas A&M even higher, but another loss down the road would drop them completely out.
No. 5 Washington (8-0) — W, 31-24 over No. 17 Utah
at Washington State, Nov. 25
Pac-12 championship
A fired up Washington team must win out in convincing fashion the rest of the way, including a potential upset game against Washington State. A Pac-12 title could do a world of good in adding to a resume-packing Huskies team.
No. 6 Ohio State (7-1) — W, 24-20 over Northwestern
vs. Nebraska, Nov. 5
vs. Michigan, Nov. 26
Win and you're in. All Ohio State needs to do is win the rest of its games, leapfrog Michigan and take home the Big Ten title game. Another loss ends their championship aspirations.
No. 7 Louisville (7-1) — W, 32-25 over Virginia
at Houston No. 17
vs. Kentucky No. 26
Louisville needs some help down the stretch to get into the ACC title game, which seems to be their only shot at jumping into the playoff race. The Cardinals would need Clemson to lose two of their three remaining in-conference games.
No. 8 Wisconsin (6-2) — W, 23-17 over Nebraska
vs. Minnesota, Nov. 26
Must run the table and get help for Big Ten title game
After beating the Cornhuskers, Wisconsin needs another Nebraska in-conference loss to get into the Big Ten Championship game as a West representative. The Badgers would then to avenge a loss over the East rep (likely Michigan or Ohio State) in order to elevate themselves into the College Football Playoff race. One more loss and they're done.
No. 9 Auburn (6-2) — W, 40-29 Ole Miss
at Georgia, Nov. 12
at Alabama, Nov. 26
Two rivalry games should have the Tigers on watch over two of the last four weeks. Win out, and have Texas A&M drop an in-conference game, and the Tigers could punch a ticket to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. Somehow, Auburn's unlikely run could lead the Tigers into the CFP.
No. 10 Nebraska (7-1) — L, 23-17 at Wisconsin
at Ohio State, Nov. 5
vs. Minnesota, Nov. 12
Nebraska can't afford another loss, or they're done. Wins over the Ohio State and Minnesota guarantees a spot in the Big Ten title game. A win over the East representative in the title game would likely land Nebraska in the College Football Playoff race.
No. 11 Florida (6-1, 4-1) — W, 24-10 over Georgia
at Arkansas, Nov. 5
vs. South Carolina, No. 12
at LSU, Nov. 19
at Florida State, Nov. 26
Florida has the inside track to an SEC title appearance by beating Arkansas, South Carolina and LSU in consecutive weeks. An SEC Championship all but guarantees a spot in the College Football Playoffs assuming Florida wins out the rest of the way.
No. 13 LSU (5-2) — coming off a bye
vs. Alabama, Nov. 5
at Arkansa, Nov. 12
vs. Florida, Nov. 19
at Texas A&M, Nov. 24
Under interim coach Ed Orgeron, the LSU Tigers are revitalized, storming out to a 3-0 record while averaging over 40 points per game. If LSU wins out and Alabama beats Auburn, Orgeron's team would earn an SEC Championship berth and could find itself in the CFP with a win in Atlanta. Although a longshot, it would be one of the largest in-season turnarounds we've seen in recent memory.
The rest of the season is about to get wild, so buckle in.
Here are the top contests for this upcoming weekend:
No. 1 Alabama at No. 13 LSU, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/WatchESPN
No. 2 Clemson vs. Syracuse, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN 2
No. 3 Michigan vs. Maryland, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
No. 4 Texas A&M at Mississippi State, 12 p.m. ET on SEC Network
No. 5 Washington at Cal, 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Nebraska, 8 p.m. ET on ABC
No. 7 Louisville at Boston College, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN 2
No. 8 Wisconsin at Northwestern, 12 p.m. on ABC
No. 9 Auburn vs. Vanderbilt, 12 p.m. on ESPN
No. 11 Florida at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. on CBS
