This one instance, this one team, is what the new College Football Playoff selection committee is all about.
It’s an eye test, they tell us. We watch the games, we see who deserves to be part of the four teams who make the sport’s first playoff.
MORE: Week 3 Rankings: Associated Press | Coaches' Poll
With that foundation, Michigan State can’t be ignored because of one loss on the road, in one of the toughest environments in the game, against the best team in the nation.
Don’t take my word for it. Listen to Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost.
“People are going to say the Big Ten is this or that and Michigan State isn’t that good — that’s a bunch of bunk,” Frost said. “That’s a great team we beat. That was a playoff-type game out there.”
Don’t automatically throw the Big Ten on the playoff scrap heap just yet. We’re only two weeks in, and anyone who watched that game Saturday (see: eye test) clearly sees Michigan State could easily be one of the best four teams in the nation.
This is the exact reason the framers of the new system wanted a selection committee: so 13 men and women could sit at a table and go over the resume of a team without the distortion of “they lost here so they can’t be one of the four” narrative. Remember, it’s about best teams — not who deserves to be in the playoff.
FOUR IN
1. Oregon: No one has a better win, no one has a better player. And I loved the way the Ducks adjusted on defense in the second half, changing coverages to eliminate mistakes over the middle and getting a more aggressive rush. The second half adjustments were just as important as QB Marcus Mariota’s terrific throws and decision-making. Net week: Wyoming.
2. Oklahoma: This is the Trevor Knight we thought we’d see in the season opener. He was accurate, he was poised, he didn’t force throws. After two games against nobodies, the Sooners will get their first test next weekend by playing host to Tennessee. At least, a test with an upgrade in talent. The Vols still aren’t an elite team (or close to it), but coach Butch Jones has them playing hard and smart. Next week: Tennessee.
3. Florida State: Just pencil in the ‘Noles for the foreseeable future. But there suddenly is an intriguing game on the horizon: Notre Dame in Tallahassee on Oct. 18. Until then, FSU simply has to stay focused each weekend and not get bored with a ridiculously easy ACC schedule. Next week: bye.
4. USC: After watching USC dominate the lines of scrimmage against one of the most physical teams in the nation — on the road, conference game — it’s hard to argue against putting USC here. We’ve always known USC has, among the starting 22 players, top five talent. The issue has been depth, and more important, coaching moxie. Steve Sarkisian played the Stanford game perfectly, knowing he had the better run game and the better kicker. He played it smart and won it late. Next week: at Boston College.
FOUR OUT
5. Auburn: The more I watch this team (see: eye test), the more it’s apparent they’re better on offense than last season. It’s only two games (against awful teams), but Auburn is better in the passing game and just as dangerous in the read option run game. Defensively, they’re not any worse than last season — which was good enough to get them within seconds of winning it all. Next week: bye.
6. Alabama: We learned nothing from the blowout of FAU, and we’ll learn nothing from next week’s blowout of Southern Miss. The real test comes Sept. 20 vs. Florida. All of those quick throws to receivers that have gone for big plays the last two weeks won’t work against teams with physical corners (see: the SEC). I want to see Alabama quarterbacks make intermediate throws over the middle on third down against SEC defenses before moving this team into the top four. Up next: Southern Miss.
7. Georgia: A classic spot for Georgia to implode next weekend at South Carolina. How many times have we seen this? Georgia has the better team in this rivalry, and can’t win. South Carolina will load up to stop the UGA run game and force QB Hutson Mason to win the game. It’s as simple as that. Up next: at South Carolina.
8. Michigan State: The Spartans are very close to being very good on defense. Oregon exposed inexperience in the secondary, but it’s not something that won’t get better with repetitions. This team is still physical, can still run with power and throw well off play action, and still get after the quarterback on defense. Next week: bye.