We're a long way from the final selection show for the College Football Playoff on Dec. 3. We're four weeks and change away from the first set of playoff rankings on Oct. 31.
There are 17 remaining undefeated teams in the FBS heading into October.
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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.
Who's in? Here is the playoff picture heading into the last week of September:
1. Alabama
That's 19 straight SEC wins, folks. Alabama followed up a 59-0 victory against Vanderbilt with a 66-3 victory against Ole Miss on Saturday. That's just brutal what they are doing to the rest of the conference, but a challenge often pops up when you least expect it. Could Texas A&M be that team at Kyle Field on Saturday? Jalen Hurts continues to evolve as a borderline Heisman Trophy candidate.
2. Clemson
Clemson ruined another ESPN College GameDay party for Virginia Tech. If the College Football Playoff rankings were unveiled this Tuesday, there would be a good chance the Tigers would be ranked No. 1 based on their top-15 wins against Auburn, Louisville and Virginia Tech. Dabo Swinney has this program in business-as-usual territory. They are the most complete team in the FBS.
3. Penn State
Is there anything Saquon Barkley can't do? The Nittany Lions have the most well-rounded offensive attack in the FBS, and Joe Moorhead continues to work with those pieces. Trace McSorley is rolling, too. It's all building toward a one-two punch in the schedule against Michigan and Ohio State at the end of October.
4. Oklahoma
The Sooners were out of sight, but certainly not out of mind. Lincoln Riley had the most impressive first month of any first-year coach in the FBS, and Baker Mayfield looks like a potential Heisman Trophy winner. The Sooners can't overlook Iowa State in advance of the Red River Showdown, and they won't.
MORE: Breaking down unbeatens' October paths
The field
ACC
Unbeatens: Clemson, Miami (Fla.)
Contenders: Miami can do a few things if it beats Florida State next week. The Hurricanes can break a seven-game streak to the Seminoles, and they can take one more step toward their first berth in the ACC championship game. Virginia Tech, Louisville and N.C. State are the best bets among the one-loss teams.
Big Ten
Unbeatens: Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin
Contenders: Michigan will be tested in different ways the next three weeks against rival Michigan State, on the road at Indiana and at the “Whiteout” against Penn State. If Jim Harbaugh gets the Wolverines through that unscathed, they'll be one of the top four teams. Wisconsin continues to chug along in the Big Ten West, and the schedule is favorable in October. Ditto for one-loss Ohio State, which impressed with a 56-0 victory against Rutgers. The Buckeyes should continue to creep up the top 10.
Big 12
Unbeatens: Oklahoma, TCU
Contenders: TCU can work up the rankings with victories against West Virginia and Kansas State the next two weeks, and it won't surprise anyone if Gary Patterson has this team challenging for the conference championship heading into November. Oklahoma State bounced back against Texas Tech and remains in the hunt among the one-loss crowd.
MORE: USC must face tough questions after loss to Washington State
Pac-12
Unbeatens: Utah, Washington, Washington State
Contenders: The big question for the Pac-12 is whether USC's loss to Washington State will end up biting the conference later. The Trojans have high visibility, so the next step would be Washington and Washington State building toward an undefeated showdown in the Apple Cup. Utah also can work into larger conversations if it beats Stanford and USC the next two weeks.
SEC
Unbeatens: Alabama, Georgia
Contenders: Same old story. Georgia appears to be the team best-suited to challenge the Crimson Tide. That is, if the Bulldogs can negotiate the SEC East schedule and dethrone Florida. Auburn is back in business after routing Mississippi State. Auburn and Georgia are the best bets to challenge Alabama, and it could happen in back-to-back weeks. See you in November.
