We're a long way from the final selection show for the College Football Playoff on Dec. 3. We're a long from the first set of playoff rankings on Oct. 31. But if you think we're going to stop talking about who's in heading into Week 5. …
Sporting News will break down the College Football Playoff picture each week, with the four teams we think are in and the field behind them. Bowl projections are coming Monday.
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Here is the playoff picture heading into the last week of September:
1. Alabama
The 59-0 victory against Vanderbilt wasn't so much a warning shot — it was an eviction notice. The Tide rolled up 677 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 496 yards and averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Tua Tagovailoa is getting valuable reps behind Jalen Hurts. Nick Saban has a backup plan for the backup plan, and motivation won't be a problem with Ole Miss coming to Tuscaloosa. That's the last team Alabama has lost to in the SEC.
2. Clemson
The Tigers took a little longer than they needed to put away Boston College, and they are back on the GameDay stage against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The Tigers are must-see TV, and Dabo Swinney likes it that way. Clemson can win its 12th straight true road game against the Hokies, too.
3. Oklahoma
The Sooners messed around before and during the game against Baylor, and allowing 41 points to the Bears isn't a good look. That's the cost of business of playing in Big 12 shootouts, and it could be worse: Just look at what happened to Oklahoma State. The Sooners have a bye week before a home game against Iowa State. It comes at the right time.
4. Penn State
Trace McSorley's 7-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson kept the Nittany Lions undefeated and is the clutch moment of the first month of the season. Saquon Barkley is the best all-around player in the country. Penn State should build on that momentum with Indiana coming to Beaver Stadium next week. James Franklin just keeps winning, and we can daydream a little bit about seeing this team play Alabama in the College Football Playoff.
MORE: Saquon Barkley, college football's best player
The field
ACC
Unbeatens: Clemson, Duke, Miami, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Contenders: Clemson's next test is Virginia Tech, one of three unbeaten teams left in the ACC Coastal Division. Miami (Fla.), we expected. Duke, not so much. Same goes for Wake Forest, who won at Appalachian State. N.C. State and Louisville are still in the one-loss hunt. We can't believe Florida State is 0-2 either, for a multitude of reasons.
MORE: Two-loss Seminoles in trouble
Big Ten
Unbeatens: Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, Wisconsin
Contenders: Michigan has a bye week to figure out the quarterback situation, but it's not a stretch to say the Wolverines have the best defense in the FBS. Ohio State remains at the front of the one-loss line, and is in good position to contend. Wisconsin remains in the driver's seat in the Big Ten West, but will they really get a push from Minnesota and first-year coach P.J. Fleck?
MORE: Does Michigan have QB controversy?
Big 12
Unbeatens: Oklahoma, TCU, Texas Tech
Contenders: What was more unexpected: TCU beating Oklahoma State or Texas Tech beating Houston? The Horned Frogs could creep close to the top 10, and that's the program Gary Patterson has built. Oklahoma State will have a hard time shaking that loss, but they are a team who can benefit from a conference championship game if they can wiggle back in.
MORE: TCU crashes Big 12 party
Pac-12
Unbeatens: USC, Utah, Washington, Washington State
Contenders: The Pac-12 is on the outside looking in for now, but it's still somewhat building toward a possible USC-Washington conference championship game, though Washington State, Oregon and Utah could have something have to say about it. Great Friday night matchup in Pullman between the Cougars and Trojans, too. Luke Falk and Sam Darnold will let it fly. If USC can get out of that September undefeated, then they'll be in real good shape.
MORE: Gators have question mark at quarterback
SEC
Unbeatens: Alabama, Georgia
Contenders: That's it. Alabama and Georgia, and they don't play in the regular season. That would be a fun SEC championship game. The Bulldogs can hand Tennessee a second loss in Knoxville in Week 5, too. Of the one-loss crowd which now features a 10-team line, we're thinking Auburn might be the best answer? Yeah, we know that's a question mark.
